Newly appointed Francis Christian Haringingo, who was recently announced as the head coach of Rayon Sports, is facing uncertainty after Kiyovu Sports filed a complaint against him for allegedly breaching his contract.
The development was confirmed by the Secretary General of Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), Bonnie Mugabe, during a press briefing on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Mugabe stated that Kiyovu Sports had officially notified FERWAFA about the dispute and requested the federation not to grant Haringingo a coaching license for any club, either in Rwanda or abroad.
“Kiyovu Sports informed us that it has a dispute with its coach Haringingo Francis and requested that we do not issue him a license to coach another team in Rwanda or outside the country,” Mugabe said.
He added that FERWAFA’s legal team has begun reviewing the case to determine the appropriate course of action.
“Kiyovu notified FERWAFA of the issue, and our lawyers are currently examining the dossier,” he explained.
In late March 2026, Haringingo wrote to the management of Kiyovu Sports requesting to terminate his two-year contract with the club. However, the club rejected the request, insisting that he could not leave in the middle of the season.
On March 31, 2026, Rayon Sports officially announced Haringingo as their new head coach despite the ongoing dispute with Kiyovu Sports. The club has since escalated the matter by filing a complaint with FIFA, accusing Haringingo of terminating his contract without mutual agreement.
Under FIFA regulations, if a coach is found to have signed with another club while still under contract with a previous one, he may face sanctions such as a fine or suspension from coaching for a certain period.
In such a case, Haringingo could be temporarily barred from coaching both Rayon Sports and Kiyovu Sports.
Additionally, Rayon Sports could also face disciplinary measures if it is proven that the club knowingly signed a coach who was still under contract with another team. Possible penalties include financial fines or restrictions on registering new players if the offense is repeated.
