Konyaspor, a Super Lig club in Turkey, faces financial turmoil as several players, including Sokol Cikalleshi, go unpaid for months.
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| Sokol Cikalleshi in action with the Konyaspor jersey (archive) |
Konyaspor, a prominent Super Lig club in Turkey, is grappling with a severe financial crisis that has left several players, including Sokol Cikalleshi, without payment for several months. The crisis has reached a point where key players, such as the national team striker Sokol Cikalleshi and the team's goalkeeper, Paul Bernandoni, have not received their due wages for an extended period.
The duo has formally requested their overdue payments, but the club has responded with refusals, resulting in their exclusion from the squad for the upcoming match against Galatasaray this Sunday.
Turkish media reports indicate that the French goalkeeper, Bernandoni, has taken legal action, hiring lawyers to address the prolonged non-payment issue. Cikalleshi, who has scored eight goals in the current season in Turkey's top-tier league, has also faced three months without receiving his salary.
The situation now awaits resolution as both players have the right to file complaints with FIFA. It is likely that they could win their cases, leading to potential sanctions such as transfer market bans and freezing of Konyaspor's assets.
It's worth noting that Cikalleshi, originally from Kavaja, played on loan in Saudi Arabia last season and still has a valid contract with Konyaspor for the next six months. The unfolding scenario emphasizes the financial struggles faced by players in the football industry and the potential ramifications for clubs facing economic hardships.