Étoile Sportive du Sahel faces the risk of international sanctions because of financial credits

The board of directors of the Tunisian Coastal Sports Star on 5 November 2026 disclosed developments concerning its financial and legal disputes with international structures. The club's management announced that they had received an official notification and issued an international ruling requiring the team to urgently settle financial matters in order to avoid being subjected to prohibitory sanctions and points deducted from its balance.

The first dispute is an official alert received on 4 November from a lawyer's office representing former French coach Roger Lomar demanding repayment of €17,841 in no more than eight days. This amount is distributed between EUR 11 000 and EUR 500 of the amount owed and EUR 1 341 of the 10% late payment interest plus EUR 5 000 as compensation with a reference to the IFF in case of non-compliance.

The second file relates to a decision issued by the International Football Federation's Dispute Resolution Chamber on 29 October and notified by the club on 2 November concerning Libyan player Noor Al-Din Qalib. The agency ordered the team to pay 122,766 U.S. dollars, including unpaid wages and compensation for contract cancellation plus an annual late interest of 5%.

The reasons for the dispute with the Libyan player are due to his departure from the team and unilateral termination of his contract for not receiving his late financial earnings, while the French coach's notification was based on a settlement agreement that had been concluded between the two parties on 26 and 28 July 2025.

The IFA regulations set a 45-day deadline from the date of notification to settle the player's full credits, whereby the penalty for non-payment of the registration of new players locally and internationally for three consecutive registration periods can be referred to the disciplinary committee.