High Court Halts Proceedings in Football Club Dispute, Urges Internal Resolution
Justice Adenike J. Coker of the High Court has ordered a stay of proceedings in the ongoing dispute between Kuteh Jonbul Football Club and the Upper River Region Football Association (URR-FA). The court directed both parties to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms outlined in the URR-FA constitution before pursuing further legal action.
The case involves Kuteh Jonbul Football Club, alongside Niomuta United, Briffu, and Tabanding Football Clubs, who have challenged their expulsion from the Third Division League and related football activities by the URR-FA.
Representing the URR-FA, counsel M.L. Sanneh and A. Fatty argued that the applicants had bypassed essential internal grievance procedures mandated by the constitutions of the URR-FA, the Gambia Football Federation (GFF), and FIFA statutes. They contended that the court lacked jurisdiction at this stage and that the dispute should be resolved through established alternative dispute resolution (ADR) channels.
The applicants, represented by counsel A. Mendy on behalf of A. Jobarteh, countered that their direct appeal to the courts was necessitated by the URR-FA’s refusal to entertain their grievances, citing their expelled status as grounds for denying them access to internal mechanisms.
Justice Coker acknowledged the principle favoring arbitration and internal resolution before litigation but highlighted the unique circumstances: the clubs’ expulsion effectively barred them from internal remedies, complicating the matter.
Invoking the legal maxim ubi jus ibi remedium—“where there is a right, there is a remedy”—the court underscored the necessity of granting the applicants access to dispute resolution channels within the association.
Ultimately, the judge ruled for a stay in proceedings to enable the respondents to engage with the internal dispute resolution process, emphasizing that, despite their expulsion, the clubs must still be recognized as members for these provisions to apply.
Additionally, the court addressed a pending interlocutory injunction sought by the respondents, aimed at restraining the URR-FA from continuing with the 2024/2025 Third Division League and from holding its Elective Congress. Justice Coker ordered that the injunction be preserved pending the final resolution of the case.
The matter was adjourned, with proceedings set to resume on October 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.