Accra Hearts of Oak have been hit with a significant setback after FIFA officially imposed a three-transfer window registration ban on the club.
The punishment follows the Phobians’ failure to settle a $150,000 debt owed to their former Technical Director, Rene Hiddink.
In a letter issued through FIFA’s Legal and Compliance Division on 21 August 2025, and signed by the Head of Disciplinary, Américo Espallargas, FIFA made it clear that Hearts of Oak had failed to comply with a ruling (ref. no. FPSD-17518) which instructed the club to pay Hiddink within 90 days.
The failure to do so has now triggered the disciplinary sanction, which restricts the club from registering new players both domestically and internationally.
The ruling further instructs the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to enforce the ban at the national level if not already in place.
The ban will remain active until the full amount due to Hiddink is paid, but under no circumstances will it extend beyond three consecutive registration windows.
For Hearts of Oak, this development represents a major hurdle in their ongoing bid to rebuild and return to the summit of Ghanaian football. Once considered a powerhouse on the continent, the Phobians have in recent years struggled both on and off the pitch.
This latest sanction not only complicates their efforts to strengthen the squad but also risks dampening the club’s ambitions ahead of the upcoming season.
Financially, the situation raises fresh concerns about the management of one of Ghana’s most historic clubs.
With debts mounting and the inability to complete a crucial payment to a former technical director, Hearts’ stability and long-term planning are now under intense scrutiny.
