CAS 2024/A/11091 FEGUIFUT v. FIFA
CAS · Football (FIFA / CAS) · Switzerland · 28 Jul 2025
Why it matters
This case underscores the strict enforcement of FIFA's eligibility rules for national team representation. It highlights that a player who has represented one association in official youth competitions cannot switch to another association without a formal change of association approved by FIFA. The decision reaffirms FIFA's authority to sanction repeated violations with significant fines and forfeits, even for matches in ongoing World Cup qualifiers, to protect the integrity of international competitions.
Summary
The Equatorial Guinean Football Association (FEGUIFUT) appealed a FIFA Appeal Committee decision that found it had repeatedly fielded an ineligible player, Emilio Nsue López, in international matches. Nsue had played for Spain's youth teams from U16 to U21 between 2005 and 2011. In 2013, FEGUIFUT requested a change of association for Nsue to play for Equatorial Guinea, but FIFA denied the request. Despite this, FEGUIFUT fielded Nsue in 42 matches from 2013 to 2024, including two FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers in November 2023. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed a CHF 150,000 fine and declared those two qualifiers lost by forfeit. The FIFA Appeal Committee upheld the fine but suspended CHF 100,000 for a two-year probation period. FEGUIFUT appealed to CAS, arguing that Nsue was eligible because he held Equatoguinean nationality at birth and that the 2013 RGAS applied. The CAS Panel dismissed the appeal, holding that the Player was ineligible because FIFA had denied the change of association, and that the sanctions were proportionate given the gravity and persistence of the violations, including prior sanctions for fielding ineligible players. The Panel noted FEGUIFUT's revenues exceeded EUR 6 million, making the fine affordable. The award was issued without costs, each party bearing its own expenses.
The detail
Parties: CAS 2024/A/11091 FEGUIFUT v. FIFA
Outcome: FEGUIFUT's appeal dismissed; FIFA Appeal Committee decision upheld; FEGUIFUT fined CHF 150,000 (CHF 50,000 payable, CHF 100,000 suspended for 2 years) and two World Cup 2026 qualifiers declared lost by forfeit.
Quantum: CHF 150,000
Applicable law: FIFA Statutes, Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes (RGAS), FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) 2023 edition
Issues in play: The case involved the eligibility rules for change of association under RGAS Article 5 and the disciplinary sanction for fielding an ineligible player under FDC Article 19. The key issue was whether the Player, Emilio Nsue, was eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea after representing Spain at youth level, given that FIFA had denied his change of association.
Read the full decision at Court of Arbitration for Sport (football, via FIFA) ↗
Locus Standi links to the source decision and publishes its own plain-language summary. It does not reproduce the text of the award.