The directive is captured in the NPFL’s 2026/27 Calendar of Events, one of the key preconditions before the 2026/27 NPFL season kicks off on the 28th August.
All Nigerian clubs that are in debt to players and coaches have been given a final ultimatum by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to pay off all outstanding salary and compensation and comply with decisions of the Players Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) by 31st July, 2026, or risk an automatic transfer ban.
The NPFL states that by this date, clubs are to have cleared outstanding salary payment to players for the 2025/26 season or provided a guarantee from its proprietors backed with a repayment schedule approved by same, in the form of acceptable financial instruments that represent payment of outstanding obligations.
Failure to meet the deadline will lead to a ban from registering players during the first transfer window of the 2027/28 season until the outstanding issues are fully settled with its players and officials, and compliance is certified by the league.
This directive may come as a shock to several clubs as reports indicate about 12 NPFL clubs have PSAC rulings pending against them over salaries and other disputes and have not made effort to settle them despite many months after the decisions were handed down by the committee.
In addition to settling players and coaches, clubs are also expected to meet all the other requirements for participation, which include club licensing, payment of wages for players and officials and inspection of their grounds, to be eligible for the next NPFL season.
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