BANDA FINED K5.7 MILLION IN LECCE CONTRACT ROW

By STANLEY KAMETA Z AMBIAN international Lameck Banda has been fined €256,250, equivalent to approximately K5.7 million, by an Italian arbitration panel for breaching his contractual obligations to Serie A side US Lecce. The ruling, delivered on October 16, 2026, follows a bitter contractual dispute that escalated after Banda failed to report for pre-season preparations before subsequently joining Libyan club Al-Swehly Sports Club. The panel reportedly found that the winger had failed to resume his sporting duties from July 1, 2026, despite being required to make himself available to Lecce under the terms of his employment contract. Banda’s contract with the Italian club was due to run until June 30, 2027. The dispute began in June 2026, when Banda reportedly requested an advance on part of his salary to meet wedding expenses, a request Lecce president Saverio Sticchi Damiani said the club had granted. However, tensions emerged when the player failed to return for the club’s preparations for the 2026/27 season. Lecce’s pre-season preparations included a training camp in Austria beginning in July, but Banda was absent, prompting the club to question his failure to honour his contractual obligations. On July 21, Lecce publicly addressed the matter, indicating that Banda had cited continuing logistical and bureaucratic difficulties that prevented his return to Italy. The club said it would examine his explanation while reserving the right to pursue disciplinary and contractual remedies. By August 14, Lecce president Sticchi Damiani had made clear that the club intended to pursue the matter through the appropriate football authorities. Banda subsequently moved to Al-Swehly in Libya, with transfer records listing August 21, 2026, as the date of the move. The transfer further complicated the dispute, with Lecce maintaining that the Zambian winger remained contractually bound to the Italian club. The Italian arbitration panel’s October 16 decision has now imposed a €256,250 fine over the contractual breach. However, the ruling does not bring the dispute to an end, as Lecce is pursuing a separate case before FIFA against Banda and Al-Swehly. The Italian club is seeking compensation for alleged losses arising from the breakdown of the contractual relationship without just cause, alongside possible disciplinary sanctions against the player and his new club. The outcome of the FIFA proceedings could determine whether Banda faces additional financial penalties and whether Al-Swehly is held liable in connection with the transfer. Banda joined Lecce from Israeli side Maccabi Petah Tikva on August 4, 2022, and went on to feature in Italian top-flight football after making his Serie A debut against Inter Milan on August 13 that year. His move to Libya has now placed his professional future at the centre of a legal dispute, with the possibility of further sanctions hanging over the Zambia international. The outstanding FIFA case will be crucial in determining the full financial and sporting consequences of his departure from Lecce. For now, the arbitration ruling represents a significant setback for Banda, who faces a fine of more than K5 million while the wider dispute remains unresolved.

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BANDA FINED K5.7 MILLION IN LECCE CONTRACT ROW