RFEF Suspends FC Andorra Services Over Unpaid Coach Debts
FC Andorra faces a crisis as the Spanish Football Federation enforces a suspension, halting all player and staff registrations until court-ordered payments to dismissed coaches Eder Sarabia and Jon López are settled.
Key Points
- RFEF blocks FC Andorra from registering players or renewing licenses due to €455,458 unpaid to ex-coaches Sarabia and López.
- Debts from Andorra court ruling after dismissals during relegation fight.
- Club ignored May payment demand, triggering enforcement of economic default rules.
- Sanction threatens preparations; appeal possible via Spanish courts.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has suspended all federative services to FC Andorra over unpaid court-ordered debts to former coaches Eder Sarabia and Jon López, blocking the club from registering new signings or renewing player and staff licenses.
The RFEF ruling halts the issuance or renewal of licenses for players, coaches, and other technical staff across FC Andorra and its affiliates until the club proves payment. This currently prevents new player registrations and could impact license renewals for the existing squad if unresolved before the season starts. While the decision does not explicitly bar the current roster from competing, prolonged suspension raises that risk.
The debts stem from a ruling by Andorra's Superior Court of Justice, which condemned the club to pay €411,557.04 to Sarabia and €43,901.47 to López after their dismissal last season amid a relegation fight that FC Andorra lost. The amounts reflect judicial consignments already deducted.
Legal representatives for the coaches filed a complaint in Spain with evidence of the final Andorran judgment. In May, the RFEF demanded payment proof within five days. FC Andorra provided no response or justification, prompting the federation to enforce its rules on economic defaults and unfulfilled judicial orders with labor implications.
The RFEF frames the move as an administrative measure to uphold regulations, not a disciplinary action. The club can appeal through Spanish courts.
An initial ruling from Andorra's Batllia had favored FC Andorra, but the Superior Court reversed it, requiring full contract compensation despite the early termination and absence of prior agreement. Sarabia had been signed through the next season.
The sanction threatens the tricolour club's preparations as it navigates relegation aftermath.
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