How much did KPL lose when season was cancelled?
Sports Disputes Tribunal chairman John Ohaga addressing the media in Nairobi in the past.
What you need to know:
- On his part, FKF lawyer Tom Ojienda explained that Mwendwa's announcement was guided by the law book, and arrived at after a force majure (unforeseen circumstances preventing someone from fulfilling a contract).
- Another lawyer, Ochutsi Munyendo, representing interested parties in this case stated that the Confederation of African (Caf) wrote to FKF requesting for an explanation on the status of football in the country.
The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) says it lost Sh100 million in revenue when Football Kenya Federation (FKF) prematurely ended the 2019/2020 league season in March.
KPL lawyer Amos Otieno made this claim in his submission to the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) on Monday in a case in which KPL has accused FKF president Nick Mwendwa of illegally ending the league and declaring Gor Mahia champions.
Otieno has also asked the Tribunal to order FKF to 'adequately' compensate KPL for 'damages' relating to this loss.
Mwendwa announced the decision to end the KPL and other football leagues in March, moments after the coronavirus struck.
At that time, the 17 KPL clubs still had an average of nine rounds of fixtures to negotiate.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa (right) presents his nomination papers to FKF Electoral Board chairperson Kentice Tikolo at Kandanda House, Kasarani in Nairobi on February 22, 2020.
The FKF boss also declared Gor Mahia as league champions, and also announced that City Stars and Bidco had earned promotion to the Kenyan Premier League.
Mwendwa's decision also earned K'Ogalo a ticket to represent the country in the lucrative Caf Champions League competition in which competing teams stand to earn between Sh58 million and Sh250 million depending on which stage of the competition they reach.
"My client had a broadcast rights deals with Media Pro to produce the matches and KTN (Kenya Television Network) to broadcast, most of them live," explained Otieno.
"We lost Sh100 million and I pray the Tribunal quantifies the loss and awards damages," Otieno told Nation Sport after the court session.
Sports Disputes Tribunal chairman John Ohaga addressing the media in Nairobi in the past.
SDT chairman John Ohaga argued that there had been 'no matches to show' following Mwendwa's announcement, but Otieno further explained that Media Pro and KTN 'had to be consulted' on a decision to prematurely end the league.
On his part, FKF lawyer Prof Tom Ojienda explained that Mwendwa's announcement was guided by the law book, and arrived at after a force majure (unforeseen circumstances preventing someone from fulfilling a contract).
Another lawyer, Ochutsi Munyendo, representing interested parties in this case stated that the Confederation of African (Caf) wrote to FKF requesting for an explanation on the status of football in the country.
Munyendo also clarified that it was 'not possible' for the league to continue in March as was the case with Germany's Bundesliga and the English Premier League as Kenyan clubs lacked the resources to play matches amid the coronavirus outbreak.
"There was massive testing of players in Germany and England. Players resided in hotels all through the matches. Kenyan clubs could not afford that," he stated.
Ohaga will make his ruling on this matter on September 15.
