Heartland FC face a race against time to settle ₦28.4 million owed to five former players after they rejected a fresh instalment proposal over previous failed repayment arrangements.
The Owerri-based club’s NNL registration is now under pressure ahead of their scheduled November 1 opener against Crown FC, with the players demanding enforcement of a subsisting Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) ruling.
The latest breakdown in negotiations leaves Heartland facing renewed uncertainty over their eligibility for the new Nigeria National League (NNL) season, as the outstanding financial obligation remains unresolved.
In a fresh attempt to settle the dispute, Heartland, through its legal representative, submitted a repayment proposal on October 23.
However, the former players rejected the offer, citing previous arrangements in October 2024 and November 2025 that the club allegedly failed to honour beyond the initial instalments.
The players are relying on a December 2025 PSAC decision directing Heartland to pay the outstanding ₦28.4 million within 45 days. The ruling also warned of restrictions on player transfers and registrations until the club complied.
With the stipulated deadline long expired, the former players argue that another repayment schedule offers little assurance, given the club’s previous failure to fulfil similar commitments.
“This is a show of bad faith. If the club is genuinely interested in settling the debts, maybe they would have offered such a payment plan since December 2025,” the players argued.
Players Demand PSAC Ruling Be Enforced
The former players have urged both PSAC and the NNL to uphold the existing ruling and ensure that Heartland addresses the outstanding obligation before completing their registration.
” Our rejection of the latest proposal is a demand for payment and compliance rather than another promise that could prolong the dispute” said one.of the players.
For the players, the issue extends beyond the club’s willingness to negotiate. They want the money owed be paid or Heartland FC face the consequences after previous repayment arrangements failed.
The dispute also places renewed focus on the enforcement of football authorities’ decisions on outstanding player entitlements and the consequences for clubs that fail to meet their financial obligations.
Whether the debt will affect Heartland’s registration ultimately depends on the applicable NNL requirements and the enforcement status of the existing PSAC decision.
November 1 Deadline Raises Stakes
Heartland’s immediate challenge is to resolve the dispute before their scheduled NNL opener against Crown FC on November 1.
The October 23 repayment proposal has failed to secure the players’ acceptance, leaving the club with an unresolved debt and an expired PSAC payment deadline.
Unless Heartland settles the outstanding obligation or reaches a resolution recognised by the relevant authorities, the club risks further complications in completing its registration for the new campaign.
With the season fast approaching, the dispute has become a test of whether the existing ruling will be enforced and whether Heartland can meet the financial obligations standing in the way of a smooth return to competitive football.
