Published: October 24, 2025
MONROVIA — The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its ruling next week in a high-profile case between the Liberia Football Association (LFA) and Jubilee Football Club — a decision that could reshape the country’s football league structure and redefine the boundaries of due process in Liberian sports governance.
At the heart of the dispute is the LFA’s April 2025 decision to relegate Jubilee FC to the Third Division after the club allegedly submitted a falsified document from the Liberia Business Registry. The club was fined US$10,000, a penalty it later contested, arguing that the sanction was arbitrary and inconsistent with both FIFA and LFA statutes.
Legal arguments were presented via Zoom on Thursday, with Attorney Joseph Howe representing Jubilee FC and Cllr. Benedict A. Yarsiah, the LFA’s Legal Affairs Manager, appearing on behalf of the association.
Howe contended that the LFA violated its own rules by bypassing its judicial bodies — including the Ethics, Disciplinary, and Appeals Committees — and instead allowing administrative officers to act outside their authority.
“The decision taken by the LFA is not grounded in law. It has no basis,” Howe told reporters after the hearing. “You must inform someone before taking action against them. That didn’t happen.”
He said the club’s license had been duly issued by the First Instance Board in September 2024, and although a complaint was later filed in December 2025, the board investigated and fined Jubilee US$1,000 after the issue was corrected, not grounds for relegation.
Howe argued that relegation is not listed among the penalties in the LFA’s Book of Censure, and that such a measure can only be applied if a club’s license is formally withdrawn — which, he said, never occurred in Jubilee’s case.
The attorney also criticized the role of LFA Secretary General Emmett Critter, who he said made the relegation decision based on advice from the association’s legal committee.
“Administrative officers cannot exercise judicial powers. That authority rests with the ethics, disciplinary, and appeals committees,” Howe maintained, calling the move a breach of natural justice.
The cost of the CAS proceedings is estimated at US$35,000, fully covered by Jubilee FC after the LFA reportedly declined to share the expense. The club is seeking reinstatement to the First Division and over US$30,000 in restitution for legal fees and damages.
A ruling in favor of Jubilee could compel the LFA to restore the club’s First Division status and revise the 2025–26 league standings, potentially affecting multiple clubs across divisions. A verdict siding with the LFA, on the other hand, would preserve the existing league structure and reinforce the association’s disciplinary authority.
CAS has already rejected several LFA motions to dismiss the case and delay the league’s kickoff, signaling the seriousness with which the court views the dispute.
“We’re asking the court to restore Jubilee’s rights and dismiss the LFA’s claims,” Howe said. “This is about following the law, not favoritism.”
The CAS ruling, expected next week, could set a precedent for sports governance in Liberia, testing the balance between regulatory enforcement and the rule of law in football administration.
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