Lecce are preparing legal proceedings against Libyan club Al-Swehli and their former player Lameck Banda after the Zambia international failed to return to the Italian side when pre-season began.
Banda did not report back to Lecce on 21 July, the date on which the club’s players returned from their holiday break. The absence has since developed into a wider dispute involving the player’s future and the conduct of two clubs.
Lecce later discovered that Banda wanted to sign for Saudi Arabian club Al-Fateh. The Saudi side subsequently sent an official offer to Lecce’s offices for the player, but the Italian club rejected it.
That approach means Lecce were aware of Al-Fateh’s interest and were given the opportunity to consider a formal proposal before deciding against it. However, the situation involving Al-Swehli is viewed differently by the Serie A club.
According to derbyderbyderby.it, Al-Swehli did not contact Lecce before announcing that they had reached an agreement with Banda. The Libyan club is therefore alleged to have proceeded without first approaching the player’s existing club.
Lecce’s lawyers are now preparing to begin legal procedures over what the Italian club considers to be an unacceptable course of events. The proposed action is expected to involve both Al-Swehli and Banda.
The dispute centres on the circumstances surrounding Banda’s absence from Lecce and the subsequent announcement by Al-Swehli. While Al-Fateh made an official approach that was rejected, Al-Swehli’s announcement came without any reported contact with Lecce.
Banda remains identified in the report as a former Lecce player, although the club’s position is that his departure has not been settled through an agreement with Al-Swehli. The legal team is expected to examine the player’s failure to return, the rejected proposal from Al-Fateh and the Libyan club’s announcement as part of the case.
No details have been given about the exact legal claims Lecce intend to make, or when proceedings will formally be launched. For now, the Italian club’s lawyers are working to initiate the process against Al-Swehli and Banda.
The matter began with Banda’s decision not to return to Lecce on 21 July and escalated after the player was linked with Al-Fateh. It then took a further turn when Al-Swehli publicly announced a contract with him despite, according to the report, having made no approach to Lecce.
That announcement has prompted Lecce to seek legal remedies rather than accepting the transfer as completed. The club’s next step will be to pursue the case through the appropriate legal procedures, with the conduct of the Libyan side and the player now at the centre of the dispute.
