Report: Hyderabad FC told to pay dues worth nearly Rs 5 crore by 15 May

The club had earlier pleaded for empathy considering the testing times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Hyderabad FC have been left in a rather difficult position after being informed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they have to fully pay up the impending dues of players and staff by May 15th.

According to Hindustan Times, the club have not been able to pay up their foreign players yet, neither have they fully reimbursed the fees of former head coach Phil Brown and his support staff. The players who separately wrote letters to AIFF include Marcelinho, Marko Stankovic, Bobo, Giles Barnes and Matthew Kilgallon.

Apart from Brown, his supporting staff of Neil McDonald and Aiden Davison have also written to the AIFF complaining that they haven’t been paid their dues after being fired by the ISL side. Brown will have to be paid $22,222 (over ₹16.5 lakhs) on May 30th, as per the agreement made with Hyderabad FC to pay his salary in part payments.

Not just that, but Marcelinho is to be paid $202,000 (over ₹1.5 crores), Bobo $108,750 (over ₹70 lakhs), Marko Stankovic $72,800 (over ₹50 lakhs), Kilgallon $59,525 (over ₹40 lakh) and Barnes $52,430 (over ₹35 lakhs) as per the report.

Davison is also to be paid $28,500 (over ₹20 lakhs), McDonald $33,025 (over ₹20 lakhs), while Brown himself is yet to be paid total dues of $89,888 (over ₹65 lakhs). The former Hull City manager had an initial agreement which would see him be paid $132,332 (over ₹1 crore) through six monthly instalments starting from January, but Hyderabad FC have only paid once.

The matter has been taken up by AIFF Player Status Committee, who has ordered them to show the governing body proof of payment after clearing the dues “failing which stringent action shall be taken against the club (sic) in accordance with relevant provisions of the relevant regulations of the AIFF.”

AIFF has also stated that it was forced to take up the matter after the club failed to pay its duties after being given an opportunity. Further, the club have also failed to provide any concrete timeline for the payments of the outstanding dues.

Hyderabad FC had earlier pleaded their case for the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak being a reason for it being difficult to remit the foreign players. They’ve also cited certain FIFA guidelines which make it possible for making delayed payments while honouring contracts due to the pandemic.

The AIFF has also ordered Hyderabad FC to send income tax documents “electronically with a digital signature” by May 5, before making the payments in just over two weeks' time. However, they’ve been told that the coaches remain exempted from the FIFA guidelines as they do not deal with delay in payments in case of a termination agreement.

Hyderabad FC made their own statement on this suggesting that they’re trying their best to make the payments amid the current situation and looking for empathy during these testing times.

Hyderabad FC Chief Operating Officer Nitin Pant said, “We are in receipt of the orders which we feel may be short on due consideration to the operational hindrances at hand for us as an entity to even attempt catalysing an amicable resolution.

“We have not yet been given a formal hearing either on phone or on video conferencing, and we would hope to have the opportunity to arrive at a solution post proper hearing, especially on account of the current global situation."

“I am sure our team will be able to gain empathy from the concerned committee and we assure we will make the best efforts to arrive at a solution soon,” he added.

The club played their last game in the ISL on February 20, defeating NorthEast United 5-1 in an emphatic end to a dismal campaign in which they finished at the bottom of the table. Hyderabad FC also appointed Albert Roca as their coach for next season, but this unnecessary controversy could leave a real black mark on their reputation before the upcoming campaign.