Dampha’s Xamax fail to win back Swiss league licence
- Thursday, 26 January 2012
- Written by Modou Lamin Beyai
Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax of Gambia international Abdourahman Dampha has failed to win back their Swiss Super League licence on Thursday ahead of the restart of the season on February 4th after two courts ruled against the Russian-owned club, the country’s Football League (SFL) said.
The club were stripped of their license on January 18th less than a year after being taken over by Russian businessman Bulat Chagaev with the Swiss Football League [SFL] saying Neuchâtel were suspected of falsifying a bank document produced as a financial guarantee last year.
The club had demanded provisionary measures against the SFL decision in two courts, saying the league had no authority to take such a decision.
“The commercial tribunal and the regional tribunal (in Berne) have turned down Neuchâtel Xamax’s demands for provisional measures,” the SFL said in a statement.
Neuchâtel already had eight points deducted for irregularities in the payment of social security contributions and players’ wages.
The club has decided to file for bankruptcy and has also decided to release its players. The club released a statement on its official website stating, “The Board of Neuchâtel Xamax has today decided to file for bankruptcy, because of the withdrawal of its licence and the financial position of the club. The Board has also decided to immediately release the players from their obligations to us and as it stands, no comments will be made.”
Chagaev, a businessman who hails from the volatile region of Chechnya, bought the club in May saying he wanted to take Neuchâtel into the Champions League. He has since sacked four coaches, faced a boycott by fans and fired several players.
He also sacked the entire administrative staff, leaving the club unable to print tickets for the opening game of the season, and parted company with all of the club’s sponsors.
Chagaev has in turn accused the media of persecuting him because of his nationality.
Swiss reports said the entire squad were now “on holiday” until January 29 now that the club has failed to win back its licence to the league, the players are sure to find other clubs to ply their trade.
“For me the situation is clear – Xamax has trained for the last time,” club spokesman Raoul Savoy was quoted as saying. The club’s French goalkeeper Jean-François Bedenik went even further saying, “We are free to join another club – if we can find one.”