Africa-Press – Liberia. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled in favor of Jubilee Football Club, overturning the Liberia Football Association’s (LFA) decision to relegate the team to a lower division.
The ruling, delivered on October 31, 2025, by Sole Arbitrator Hervé Le Lay, ordered the LFA to set aside its May 8, 2025 decision and refer the case back to the Club Licensing Appeal Board for proper adjudication.
CAS also directed that Jubilee FC be provisionally reinstated in the First Division for the 2025–2026 season, pending the outcome of the new hearing. The court ruled that Jubilee will bear 25% of the arbitration costs, while the LFA will cover 75%, indicating flaws in the initial LFA proceedings.
Jubilee FC Welcomes Decision
Jubilee FC President James Namine said the club welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for fairness and due process.
“We are excited and feel that justice was served,” Namine told FrontPage Africa. “This should not be seen as a fight against the LFA but as part of the legal process available to all football clubs.”
He said the decision sets an important precedent for Liberian football governance and promised the club would comply with the CAS directive and the LFA’s next steps.
LFA Legal Manager Cllr. Benedict A. Yarsiah cautioned against celebrating the ruling as a victory, noting that CAS did not decide the merits of the case.
“For the record, there is no winner yet,” Yarsiah said. “The case has been remitted to the LFA Club Licensing Appeal Board for proper handling. That is where the final decision lies.”
In an official release, Jubilee FC described the decision as “a victory for due process, transparency, and the rule of law in Liberian football.”
“The CAS found that the process leading to our relegation was procedurally improper and directed the LFA to rehear the matter,” the statement read. The club expressed gratitude to its legal team, players, and supporters and reaffirmed its respect for the LFA, CAF, and FIFA.
The Club Presidents Association of Liberia (CPAL) also welcomed the CAS ruling, describing it as a step toward fairness and integrity in Liberian football.
In a statement signed by Chairman Sylvanus K. Morris, CPAL said the decision “reinforces transparency and the rule of law” within the sport.
“We commend the LFA for adhering to the CAS ruling and for its commitment to ensuring fairness and professionalism,” the statement said. CPAL congratulated Jubilee FC on its reinstatement and urged all stakeholders to promote unity and compliance in football governance.
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