The Club Risked Heavy Consequences for Non-Payment of Fines on Time
The Press — When a professional Ligue 1 club is unable to pay a negligible amount of six thousand dinars in fines on time, it shows the extent of the financial crisis it is facing and the little chance it has of getting out of it quickly. Unfortunately, a club like Zliza de Gabès has reached this point. It risked having a point deducted from its ranking, which would have further worsened its situation. Since the amendments made in July to the FTF Disciplinary Code no longer make non-payment of fines a case for complaint and penalty, clubs have a tendency to be complacent and only wake up on the last day. However, the new regulations have been lenient towards them and have offered a flexible payment plan for these fines in two stages.
Payment Plan for Fines
The paragraph B of article 53 of the Disciplinary Code gives clubs a first payment deadline of 15 days from the date of notification of the fine, after which the fine will be increased by 20%. They are granted a second deadline of one month to pay the new amount of the increased fine. If this second ultimatum is not respected, a point will be deducted from the ranking of the offending team.
A Last-Minute Reprieve
Although he had resigned, the president of Carrelage, Mongi Hassine, hastened to pay the amount of fines required to the National Professional Football League, and did so on the last day before the expiration of the last deadline, thus avoiding the deduction of a point. This would have been another shocking scandal after the one of the forfeit at home of the youth categories for the day of November 30. The situation is really dire for a club that is living through the most dramatic moments of its history. Especially since it is unlikely that there will be a list of candidates for the elections of a new board of directors on December 22. If the void persists, the focus will still be on local authorities to appoint a restricted rescue committee to manage the unmanageable. Pressure will also be put on the Chemical Group to release at least part of the subsidy, which will only be possible at the beginning of 2026. Too late, especially if there is no good winter market to slightly improve the situation. Without a reinforced squad or good preparation for the second phase, ASG risks getting stuck.
