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Emmanuel Eboue, who signed only recently on a short term deal until the end of the season, has been suspended by FIFA for failing to pay agent fees, receiving a ban from playing for one year.
Sunderland have given notice of their intention to terminate Emmanuel Eboue's contract https://t.co/IbaEQwKxYB #SAFC pic.twitter.com/tAAdzE08n2
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) 31 March 2016
As a result, Sunderland have elected to terminated the player's contract, pending an appeal.
A statement on SAFC.com reads:
Sunderland AFC has been advised by the Football Association that Emmanuel Eboue has been placed under an immediate suspension from football and all football-related activity for a period of one year, by FIFA.
The suspension relates to a monetary dispute between the player and a former agent, which precedes his time at Sunderland AFC and was not something that the club was made aware of by the player.
Eboue signed a contract with Sunderland AFC until the end of the current season and the club has therefore given notice of its intention to terminate the contract. The player has two weeks in which to appeal this decision.
Although the club could well be completely blameless in all of this, it's not the first time this season we've had our name rather embarrassingly dragged through the mud. Less said about it, the better.