Amiens (France) (AFP) – Saman Ghoddos, a Swedish-born Iranian international, has been suspended for four months by FIFA for failing to honour an agreement to join Huesca, his French club Amiens said on Friday.
The case centred on the attacking midfielder’s move in August 2018 from Ostersunds to Amiens in Ligue 1 for four million euros ($4.4m).
Huesca, who had just been promoted to La Liga, claimed that they already had a deal to buy Ghoddos from his Swedish club and that the player had signed a contract.
FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber found that the Spanish club had a case.
“The player was ordered to pay compensation to SD Huesca and sporting sanctions were imposed on him and Ostersunds,” FIFA said in an email, adding that “the decision is not yet final and binding”.
Ostersunds and Ghoddos, who have 21 days to appeal, were reportedly ordered to pay Huesca, relegated last season, four million euros in compensation.
The 25-year-old played two games for Sweden before deciding to represent Iran.
Amiens released a statement pointing out that the hearing had cleared them of any wrongdoing but adding: “The club deplores the heavy sanctions imposed on Saman and intends to support him morally in this delicate period.”
Amiens praised “the transparency and honesty shown by the player” but complained that they were “a collateral victim of this heavy sporting sanction” because they had been “brutally deprived of one of our major attacking assets” just as the transfer window was closing.
