The battle to earn millions of shillings from the recent move by Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama to English side Southampton has moved to Fifa following disagreements among local clubs.
One of the clubs, Nairobi league side Country Bus has petitioned the world football body to intervene in the matter.
The move could delay the pay-out of a Sh80million solidarity fees that is to be paid out to all clubs that Wanyama will have played for until he turns 23.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman Sam Nyamweya has confirmed that Fifa have contacted the federation over the dispute with a request to avail information that will help resolve it.
“Lawyers representing Country Bus contacted Fifa over the matter and we have been made aware. We are in the process of availing the documents demanded by Fifa,” he said.
Fifa is requesting player license issued by FKF to all local clubs who are claiming a share of the cash so that they can determine exactly who is to be paid what.
Apart from Country Bus, Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards are also claiming a share of the millions.
An official at City Stars who requested not to be named said they are disappointed by the turn of events as they were expecting to have been paid by now.
“In our assessment, we were expecting that our share of the money would be available at this time. The move to go to Fifa will only delay the release of the cash and at City Stars we badly need money,” said the official.
Both Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards have handed the matter to their respective lawyers three weeks ago and were expecting to have been paid by now.
Wanyama spent one season at City Stars when he played at the club in 2007/2008 season and the club expects to be paid at least Sh8million the solidarity fees.
City Stars remain the only club to have ever received compensation from Wanyama’s move after the club was paid Sh500,000 by Celtic in 2012.
AFC Leopards on the other hand have put in a claim of in a claim of Sh6million for the one season the player turned out for them.
“Our international based lawyers have begun the process to get us the money,” the club’s acting Chief Executive Officer said three weeks ago.
JMJ Academy are also expecting to be paid part of the money having given the player his first opportunity to play professional football in Belgium.
It is the Academy that sent him to Belgium as a minor and took care of most his expenses before being signed by Germinal Bierschott.
The dispute is now new however. One month ago Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was forced to intervene in the matter.
