The Ethiopian Premier League Share Company revealed on Monday that it has penalized four clubs and fifteen players for failing to abide by financial regulations after a task force found them guilty.
The financial work control committee stated the players received down payments through a third party when they signed their contracts during the summer transfer window. The down payment was not taxed as the task force actively questioned players and club officials over a six-month investigation.
According to the league, the sanctioned clubs include Mechal, Sidama Coffee, Mekele 70 Enderta and Hawassa Ketema who have been charged and found guilty. Mechal paid down payments to seven players through a third party to avoid the new financial regulations implemented recently.
Minyelu Wendimu, Dawit Mamo, Dessalgen Ketemaw, Neseredin Hailu, Bereket Desta, Amanuel Yohannes and Frimpong Mensu were the players identified who accepted down payments when signing contracts with the club. Mechal is now ordered to pay 169,354 USD as a penalty. The league penalized each player to pay $1,600 USD (200,000 Ethiopian Birr) and to return the down payment to the league within seven days.
Sidama Coffee were also punished for down payments given to players Habtamu Tadesse, Mesfin Tafesse, Firaol Mengistu, Yared Bayeh, Samuel Saliso and Desta Demu. They all have been ordered to pay $1,600 USD and return the full down payment amount within seven days while the league penalized Sidama Coffee with a $145,161 USD fine.
Mekele 70 Enderta player Yabsera Tesfaye is another player identified who received a down payment. He was also penalized $1,600 USD and ordered to return the down payment within a week while the club is ordered to pay a fine of $24,100 USD.
Hawassa Ketema were penalized the same amount after it was proven that the club provided a down payment to striker Esrael Eshetu. The player is now ordered to pay $1,600 USD as a penalty fee and to return the down payment within seven days.
This marks the first punishments handed down after the league declared its intention to crack down on violations of its recently implemented financial regulations. Over the summer, the league introduced a new financial system forbidding clubs to spend more than $403,000 USD (50,000,000 Ethiopian Birr) on player salaries but several clubs proceed to pay players under the table to avoid punishment.
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