‘How am I going to survive?’ asked non-league star after dream transfer into EFL turned into a nightmare
A NIGHTMARE summer transfer to Crawley Town left non-league striker Muhammadu Faal asking himself: “How am I going to survive?”
From landing his dream move and putting a deposit down on a brand new house for his young family, to being told his contract was INVALID, Faal was left feeling depressed and ashamed.
Faal was on top of the world when he was publicly announced as newly promoted League One side Crawley Town’s latest striker on July 22.
It came 12 days after his cousin Liverpool star Joe Gomez watched on from the bench as England lost the Euros final to Spain.
Faal told The Athletic: “It felt like my second bite of the cherry, my second chance. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.”
But less than three months later, Faal’s attitude to football has changed.
He lost the opportunity to play at the highest level in his career so far when the EFL found his contract with Crawley was not valid.
The agreement was a six-month contract with an 18-month extension option – which broke EFL rules as an extension period is not allowed to be longer than the initial deal.
Faal then says there was told by Crawley’s football leadership that there was no room for renegotiation.
A devastated Faal went to the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) for support, but was told that they couldn’t help.
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He said: “I waited for the PFA, and within those three weeks I wondered, ‘How am I going to pay my bills? How am I going to just… survive?
“I’ve got a wife, I’ve got a child, I’ve got rent to pay, bills to pay. How am I going to do this? What am I going to do?’”
He added: “When Crawley became interested, I thought that this was the chance of a lifetime. I couldn’t miss it. Great playing style, good manager… it doesn’t matter about the terms — I have to take it.”
He has since received legal support from Muslim athlete collective Nujum Sport.
But what happened before that?
Faal signed the contract on July 15 and he completed his medical three days later, with signing pictures taken.
The first stumbling block came when club sporting director Tobias Phoenix incorrectly told him he’d failed his medical.
Faal recalled to The Athletic: “He told me ‘the deal’s off because you failed’. He said he didn’t want to disclose on what grounds.”
But Crawley chiefs seemingly backtracked during a meeting with Faal and his agent just 24 hours later.
The move was back on. That day, he was announced as a Crawley player, and appeared on the club’s social media channels.
To Faal’s knowledge, at this point he was a Crawley player — though his agent was still pressing the club for a finalised copy of the contract.
Setback after setback came again before he was told that he hasn’t been registered yet for a Carabao Cup against Swindon in August.
Faal had paid the holding deposit on his dream home less than 48 hours before.
He admitted that he was affected by the update — and didn’t perform up to his usual level in training.
His senses were correct and he was let go by the club the next day.
I felt ashamed, I felt embarrassed. I didn’t feel worthy. Although it wasn’t the case, I felt I’d failed.
Muhammadu Faal
The problem was that the contract which Faal had signed was for six months, with an 18-month extension option.
Under EFL rules, an extension is not allowed to be longer than the initial contracted period.
The issue meant Faal could not be registered.
Faal added: “I was in disbelief. My agent and I didn’t know how it could happen. I signed a contract. Surely you can’t just let me go?
“At that point, I just wanted to give up football. I didn’t see the point of continuing. My life’s goal was to make it pro and do that to the best of my ability.
“But every time I’ve taken the step, I’ve been met by problems outside my control. I love football, but it’s unfair as well.”
The Hackney-born ace lost his deposit on the house, but bigger things were also at play.
He was now jobless, with his mental health receiving a battering.
The 6ft 5in striker explained: “I felt ashamed, I felt embarrassed. I didn’t feel worthy. Although it wasn’t the case, I felt I’d failed.”
According to Faal and his lawyer, his registration was not a key condition of the contract.
Faal has since refused to sign the proof of termination document.
He feels that he is owed that six-month contract — and is planning to take the club to an employment tribunal, according to The Athletic.
In recent weeks, he has joined nearby Worthing to play games — dropping back down three divisions to return to the National League South.
He now earns less money than he did before the Crawley move.
Faal believes he has contracts with both Crawley and Worthing — but is allowed to play because he is only registered with the latter.
When announcing his departure, on September 13, Crawley said Faal had joined Worthing for an “undisclosed fee”.
But they would have been unable to receive money for him as an unregistered player — and is instead classed as a free transfer.
Faal says Crawley told him that it was done to help the image of all parties involved.
Faal began his career in Italy with Serie C side L’Aquila as an 18-year-old, making five senior appearances.
He then enjoyed a series of free transfers to non-league sides Dulwich Hamlet, Kingstonian FC and Enfield Town.
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