By: Kemo Kanyi
In a ruling delivered on June 25, 2025, the High Court of The Gambia ordered the suspension of all football activities in the Upper River Region (URR).
The ruling came after a fierce legal dispute involving four regional clubs: Kuteh Jonbul FC, Niomuta United, Tabanding FC, and Briffu FC. The court also noted serious concerns regarding governance, fairness, and adherence to the rule of law in sports administration within the region.
According to a statement issued by the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) on Monday, the civil suit against the Upper River Regional Football Association (URRFA) was referred by a High Court judge back to the association’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms, in line with the URRFA constitution.
“In a ruling last week, the judge ordered that since internal processes exist to settle football disputes as outlined in the constitution of the URRFA, the right course of action is to stay (suspend) the current court action and for the parties to resort to internal dispute resolution,” the GFF said.
The GFF added that the ruling has been accepted by the URRFA. However, the injunction preventing the regional FA from proceeding with its third division league and the Elective Congress remains in effect until the outcome of the internal settlement processes is determined.