Black Leopards president David Thidiela says he is confident that the FIFA transfer ban imposed on the club will soon be lifted.
In an interview on Tuesday, Thidiela said his team of legal advisers was working urgently to resolve the matter.
Leopards received a FIFA communique on Friday, 22 August – a day before their opening Motsepe Foundation Championship match against Casric Stars at Thohoyandou Stadium. The letter stated that the sanction related to an alleged infringement dating back more than a year.
The case stems from a dispute involving All Stars FC, the club from which Leopards bought their Championship status after being relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2022/23 season. At the time of the sale, All Stars reportedly had an unresolved issue with a former player, who later took the matter to FIFA.
The sanction means Leopards cannot register new players until a fine is paid. As a result, the team was forced to field only 10 players in their 3-0 defeat to Casric Stars.
Thidiela said he remained hopeful the matter would be resolved before their next league fixture against Upington City at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday, 13 September.