The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) case 2012/A/2830 involved Africa Sports d'Abidjan (ASA) appealing against disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) and USC Bassam. The dispute arose from ASA's alleged submission of falsified identity documents for a player, Stéphane Desson Inai, during a licensing request. The case was heard by a panel consisting of Prof. Gérald Simon, Me François Klein, and Me Augustin Emmanuel Senghor. The key facts revolve around a match on April 29, 2012, between ASA and USC Bassam in the Ivorian Ligue 1 championship, where ASA fielded the player in question. USC Bassam later filed a complaint with the FIF Disciplinary Commission, alleging the player had used a false identity, including discrepancies in his name, date of birth, and place of birth. The FIF Disciplinary Commission initially dismissed USC Bassam's complaint due to procedural deficiencies but later self-initiated an investigation based on a press article where the player admitted to changing his name. The Commission concluded that ASA had submitted falsified documents and imposed sanctions, including a fine of 1,000,000 CFA francs, a forfeit of the match (recorded as a 5-0 loss), and a three-point deduction in the league standings. These sanctions effectively disqualified ASA from advancing to the Superdivision phase and subsequent African Champions League qualification.
ASA appealed to the FIF Appeals Commission, which upheld the original decision, emphasizing that ASA had failed to verify the player's identity and was solely responsible for the falsified documents submitted. The Appeals Commission cited Article 15 of the General Regulations, which holds clubs fully accountable for the documents they submit for player qualification. ASA then brought the case before the CAS, arguing procedural irregularities and contesting the severity of the sanctions. The CAS, exercising its full power of review under Article R57 of its Code, examined the facts and legal arguments anew. The tribunal underscored that clubs must exercise heightened diligence when verifying player identities, especially when dealing with unfamiliar players. The CAS ultimately upheld the FIF's decision, reinforcing the principle that clubs bear responsibility for ensuring the authenticity of submitted documents.
The ruling affirmed the disciplinary measures against ASA, including the match forfeiture and point deduction, and highlighted the importance of due diligence in player registration processes to maintain integrity in football competitions. The case serves as a precedent for clubs to rigorously verify player documentation to avoid sanctions for fraudulent submissions. The arbitration panel noted inconsistencies in ASA's claims, such as asserting it did not know the player yet relying on his supposed sports passport to fill the form. The panel emphasized that clubs must exercise due diligence, especially when dealing with unfamiliar players, and concluded that ASA failed to meet this standard. The FIF's position and its jurisdictional bodies' decisions were upheld, dismissing ASA's appeal. The case underscores the challenges of identity verification in Ivory Coast due to past conflicts and the importance of clubs adhering to procedural requirements to prevent fraud. The decision underscores the importance of due diligence and adherence to regulatory requirements in player licensing processes.