Ahead of the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season scheduled to kick off next week, the players of Heartland FC of Owerri, have threatened to take the Naze Millionaire, to World Football governing body, FIFA over eight months unpaid salaries.
Before the end of last NPFL season, the management of the Owerri-based side, promised the team, that all their financial entitlement including, the eight monthly backlog of salaries will be paid, but according to the player's nothing has been paid.
With less than a week to start another season, in the Nigerian topflight, Heartland player who pleaded to be anonymous, claimed that the weak League Management Company (LMC) has failed them hence, they have vowed to take the club to FIFA as they seek for justice.
“It’s sad that we are here talking about our Unpaid Salaries of about eight months after we involved the League Management Company who appear to be very weak and toothless.
“Some of us are family men, breadwinners of our families, we don’t have another profession than football, but it’s sad that after you worked tirelessly for a season, you still have to beg and cry for what is rightfully yours.
“We are highly disappointed with the LMC because by now they ought to have sanctioned Heartland and place an embargo on them, but here we are, Heartland is preparing to start the new season, having completed half of the registration process with the same LMC.
“Since it appears the League body can not help us, then we have decided to report the case to FIFA and see maybe we will get the desired justice.”
