Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda armed with FIFA rule to walk out on Orlando Pirates contract

Published on: 26 February 2014
Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda armed with FIFA rule to walk out on Orlando Pirates contract
Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda told he is second choice at Orlando Pirates

By Ameenu Shardow, follow on Twitter @alooameenu

Ghana goalkeeper Fatau Dauda can terminate his existing contract with Orlando Pirates at the end of the season and further on seek compensation under FIFA’ transfer regulations, GHANAsoccernet.com has deduced.

The first choice Black Stars goalkeeper has been frustrated with limited first team opportunities at the South African giants since his arrival at the beginning of the season.

Dauda, who joined the Bucs from Ghanaian club AshantiGold – where he was the undisputed first choice - has played just two official matches for the PSL club.

The 28-year-old has been told he will only serve as a support to regular Senzo Meyiwa despite being a regular at international level.

This means Dauda is highly likely to meet the criteria that will qualify him to take legal action against Orlando Pirates if he so wishes.

The shot-stopper can on this basis seek for the termination of his contract with Pirates 15-days after the end of the current campaign under ‘Terminating a contract with sporting just cause’ rule.

This rule allows for players who have played ‘less than 10 percent of official matches in which the club has been involved in’ to prematurely terminate their existing contracts.

Fatau Dauda has made just two official appearances for Orlando Pirates
Fatau Dauda has made just two official appearances for Orlando Pirates
This rule is captured in article 15 of FIFA’s Regulation on the Status and Transfer of Players.

Dauda can therefore launch a legal action against Orlando Pirates at the end of the season if his bench warming duties continue unabatedly [that is if his appearances are less than 10 percent of the total official matches of the club at the end of the season].

In this instance, when the case is lodged at the end of the season on this strong footing, FIFA will refer the case to its Player Status Committee for consideration and appraisal.

If the case proves successful, Fatau Dauda will be eligible to walk out of his existing contract as a free agent and could be handed a huge financial package as compensation.

This also means the Ghana international will be able to join any club of his choice with no economic gains to Orlando Pirates.

Fatau Dauda impressed for Ghana at the 2013 Nations Cup
Fatau Dauda impressed for Ghana at the 2013 Nations Cup
It is unclear if the South African club or Dauda himself is aware of this rule which could end up stirring a massive revolution in the way players are treated by clubs after their acquisition.

Dauda now stands a real chance of losing his regular spot in the Black Stars team even though according to sources, he will make Ghana’s World Cup squad.

The 28-year-old who impressed for Ghana at the 2013 Nations Cup could however lose his first team place to the other competitive candidates in the Black Stars team – one that will certainly result in the drop of his economic value as a professional.

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