Former AmaZulu and SuperSport United assistant coach Alan Clark has suffered a setback in his legal battle against the Kosovo Football Association (KFA).

The FIFA Football Tribunal has rejected Clark’s claim for unpaid wages related to his role as assistant coach of the Kosovo Under-21 team.

Clark took Football Association of Kosovo for “none-payment” as the assistant coach of the Under-21, the position he took on 1 July 2021.  

The parties entered this agreement for the establishment of an employment relationship for the period of 1 (one) calendar year. Starting from 01.07.2021 until 31.06.2022, with the possibility of extension for another one (one) calendar year.  

If the employer decides not to extend the contract for a further 1 (one year, the employer is obliged to inform the employee in writing 30 days before the end of the current contract period, namely 30.05.2022, according the FIFA document in the hands of Sportswire.  

According to the contract, the respondent (Kosovo FA) undertook to pay the claimant (Clark) EUR 1,500 as a monthly salary.  

On 3 May 2023, the claimant put the respondent in default and requested payment of “all payments for the period May 20, 2022 to June 30, 2023” within seven days. On 22 May 2023, the Respondent replied to the coach and rejected his claim.  

The Football Federation of Kosovo held that the contract expired on 31 June 2022 as stipulated in the document since it notified the coach in time that the contract would not be extended.  

The coach confirmed that he remained unemployed during the relevant period. 

In this framework, the coach argued that the parties signed a contract for one season, but that the contract was “automatically extended” since no notice was received from the Football Federation.  

According to the coach he contacted the Federation on various occasions, however to no avail.  

According to FIFA, on 14 November 2023, the Clark filed the claim at hand before FIFA. A brief summary of the position of the parties was detailed in continuation. In his claim, the Claimant requested payment of EUR 18,000, corresponding to the value of the contract extension, plus 8% p.a. as of the due dates.   

In this framework, the coach argued that the parties signed a contract for one season, but that the contract was “automatically extended” since no notice was received from the Football Federation. 

While Clark thought he had a leg to stand on, but FIFA’s decision of the Players Status Chamber 1 said: “The claim of the claimant, Alan Justin Clark, is rejected. 2. This decision is rendered without costs.” 

Clark, who has a UEFA Pro License, worked extensively with former Kaizer Chiefs caretaker coach Cavin Johnson at SuperSport and AmaZulu respectively. The former Mamelodi Sundowns youth coach also worked with Gordon Igesund and Kaitano Tembo – all at SuperSport.  

He was in charge of only all eight matches with Black Leopards as the head coach in the 2020/21 season, winning three games and losing five.  

This legal setback is a disappointment for Clark, who was seeking compensation for his services during the disputed period.