Echeta Heads To CAS Over NFF PSAC Reversed Ruling On Rivers United Contract Dispute

Echeta Heads To CAS Over NFF PSAC Reversed Ruling On Rivers United Contract Dispute

Precious Oham

Former Rivers United FC player Deputy Echeta has filed a case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, challenging what he describes as the “illegal reversal” of a prior ruling by the Nigeria Football Federation’s Players Status and Arbitration Committee (NFF PSAC), BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The case is officially registered as CAS 2025/A/11424 Echeta Deputy Ugonna v. Rivers United FC & Nigeria Football Federation.

The case centers around the NFF PSAC’s decision to overturn its own binding judgment in favor of Rivers United, months after initially delivering a judgement in favour of Echeta in a high-profile employment dispute.

Recall that the original ruling, delivered on December 2, 2024, had found Rivers United guilty of multiple violations of the player’s contract and FIFA regulations.

However, in a surprise decision on March 1, 2025—disclosed publicly only in late April—the NFF PSAC convened a new hearing, excluding Echeta and inviting only Rivers United.

Meanwhile, Echeta’s legal team is asking CAS to: annul the second ruling, citing procedural irregularity and lack of jurisdiction, uphold and enforce the original judgment from 2nd December 2024 and rule on the substance of the dispute and award compensation against Rivers United to be paid to Echeta for the breach of contract.

Speaking through his representatives, Echeta said, “This isn’t just about me. It’s about the integrity of arbitration in Nigerian football. If decisions can be reversed in secret without due process, then no player is safe and contractual stability is not guaranteed in the domestic leagues.”

The case now heads to CAS, which will determine whether the NFF PSAC acted within its powers and if the initial ruling should be reinstated.