On 16 October, Lecce announced the ruling of the Arbitration Panel relating to the Banda case, which saw the actor Lameck Banda refuse to return to the pitch from 1 July 2026. The body confirmed the expiry of the contract on 30 June 2027 and recognized the player's serious breach of duty, with a disciplinary fine of 256,250 euros.
The club published a statement reiterating that, according to the contractual clauses, Banda did not fulfill his sporting performance obligation despite the call-ups. The sanction was therefore granted on the basis of the National Collective Agreement.
However, the matter does not end with the fine. Lecce has initiated proceedings with FIFA, requesting both compensation for damages and further sanctions against Banda and the club Al‑Swehly Sports Club, to which the player had been sold. The case is currently awaiting a decision by the relevant FIFA authorities.
The club, which suffered economic and sporting damage due to the sudden withdrawal of the player, continues to monitor the outcome of the international proceedings. If FIFA were to grant the requests, Banda and Al‑Swehly could face further disciplinary sanctions and compensation to Lecce. Meanwhile, the club remains awaiting an official response on the future of the case.