FIFA CLEARS LAMECK BANDA TO PLAY FOR AL-SWEHLY AFTER LECCE CONTRACT DISPUTE

FIFA CLEARS LAMECK BANDA TO PLAY FOR AL-SWEHLY AFTER LECCE CONTRACT DISPUTE Zambian winger’s controversial move to Libya takes a dramatic turn as FIFA reportedly opens the door for him to play while the contractual dispute continues By Adam Mangani | ZIT TV Sports August 17, 2026 | Zambia The extraordinary transfer saga involving Zambian […]

FIFA CLEARS LAMECK BANDA TO PLAY FOR AL-SWEHLY AFTER LECCE CONTRACT DISPUTE

Zambian winger’s controversial move to Libya takes a dramatic turn as FIFA reportedly opens the door for him to play while the contractual dispute continues

By Adam Mangani | ZIT TV Sports
August 17, 2026 | Zambia

The extraordinary transfer saga involving Zambian international Lameck Banda has taken another dramatic turn, with FIFA reportedly clearing the winger to play for Libyan side Al-Swehly SC despite an unresolved contractual dispute with his former club, Italian Serie A side US Lecce.

Banda is already in Libya with Al-Swehly after reaching an agreement with the club, ending weeks of uncertainty over his immediate footballing future.

The development follows a dispute that began after Lecce exercised an option to extend Banda’s contract from June 2026 to 30 June 2027.

Lecce maintains that the extension was valid and contractually binding.

Banda’s side has disputed the circumstances surrounding the extension, and the disagreement eventually escalated into a transfer situation involving the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), FIFA, the Libyan club and the player.

The latest reported FIFA clearance could now allow Banda to return to competitive football while the underlying contractual dispute is dealt with separately.

THE CONTRACT THAT STARTED THE DISPUTE

The foundation of the entire dispute is Banda’s Lecce contract.
On 11 June 2026, Lecce officially announced that it had exercised an option contained in the player’s existing contract to extend his stay by one additional season.

The club confirmed that Banda, together with Antonino Gallo and Ylber Ramadani, would remain contracted to Lecce until 30 June 2027.

That announcement initially appeared to be routine.
However, the situation would soon become one of the biggest stories surrounding a Zambian player in the European transfer market.

Lecce’s position has consistently been that it had the contractual right to exercise the option.

Italian reporting subsequently described the extension as a unilateral option contained in the original agreement.
Lecce therefore considers Banda to have remained its player beyond the end of the 2025/26 season
.
BANDA DID NOT RETURN FOR PRE-SEASON

The relationship between the player and club deteriorated quickly.
Banda was expected to return to Lecce for pre-season preparations but failed to report.

On 21 July 2026, ANSA reported that Banda had not joined Lecce’s training camp in Austria.

The club said the player had cited continuing logistical and bureaucratic problems that had prevented his return to Italy.
Lecce stated that it would investigate the reasons provided and reserved the right to take disciplinary measures relating to his contractual obligations, explicitly referring to the contract’s 30 June 2027 expiry date.

At that point, the issue was no longer simply about a player considering his next move.
It had become a contractual dispute.

THEN CAME AL-SWEHLY

While Banda’s future at Lecce remained uncertain, interest emerged from Libya.
Al-Swehly SC, based in Misrata, became the club at the centre of the developing saga.
Reports indicated that the Libyan club had previously approached Lecce regarding Banda.

Lecce rejected an initial proposal, according to reports from Italy, after which the situation took a much more controversial direction.
Banda subsequently appeared in Libya and was linked with an agreement with Al-Swehly.

Reports from Libyan journalist Muha El Gadamsi indicated that Banda was ready to sign a two-year contract worth approximately 12 million Libyan dinars, reported at around €1.6 million.

That figure has not been independently confirmed through an official contract announcement and should therefore be treated as a reported financial package rather than an established fact.
The development nevertheless alarmed Lecce.

The Italian club believed Banda remained under contract and therefore argued that Al-Swehly could not simply register him without resolving his contractual status.

LECCE TAKES THE MATTER TO FOOTBALL AUTHORITIES

Lecce responded by escalating the matter.
The Italian club contacted football authorities, including FIFA and the FIGC, over the proposed move.

The case centred on one fundamental question:
Could Banda be registered by another association while Lecce maintained that his contract was still valid?
Under FIFA’s transfer system, an international transfer normally requires an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the player’s previous association.

FIFA’s transfer documentation explains that an ITC is part of the international registration process and that transfer cases can be recorded as pending when an ITC has been requested but not yet delivered.
That became critical in Banda’s case.

FIGC INITIALLY BLOCKED THE MOVE

The first major obstacle came from Italy.
The FIGC rejected the request for Banda’s international clearance because Lecce maintained that the player’s contract had not expired and had not been mutually terminated.

That effectively placed the move to Al-Swehly on hold.
However, the dispute did not end there.
The matter moved towards FIFA.

And FIFA’s regulations provide an important mechanism that explains how Banda can potentially play even while the contractual disagreement remains unresolved.

WHAT FIFA’S RULES SAY

This is the part of the story that requires careful explanation.
FIFA’s regulations recognise that contractual disputes can prevent the normal issuance of an ITC.
Where a contractual dispute exists, the former association may refuse to issue the ITC.
However, FIFA can, in exceptional circumstances, authorise provisional registration of the player with the new club.

FIFA’s own 2026 Legal Journal explains that where a dispute is not resolved within a reasonable period, FIFA may authorise provisional registration so that a player’s professional career is not suspended indefinitely.

The regulations also make an extremely important distinction:
A provisional registration decision does not determine the underlying contractual dispute.
In other words, allowing a player to play does not necessarily mean FIFA has ruled that the player was right and the former club was wrong.

That distinction could be central to the Banda case.

FIFA CLEARANCE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN BANDA HAS WON THE CASE

If the reported FIFA clearance is a provisional registration, Banda may be permitted to play for Al-Swehly while the contractual dispute continues.

This is fundamentally different from FIFA declaring that Lecce’s contract extension was invalid.

FIFA’s regulatory framework specifically allows provisional registration decisions to be made without prejudicing the merits of the underlying contractual dispute.

Therefore, the latest development should be understood as:
Banda may now have permission to play, but the legal battle over whether he was still contractually bound to Lecce may not be finished.

That could leave several issues to be determined later, including possible compensation, contractual liability or sporting sanctions depending on the eventual findings of the relevant football authorities.

LECCE’S SIDE OF THE STORY

Lecce has been particularly firm in defending its position.
Club president Saverio Sticchi Damiani has argued that Banda’s contract contained the extension option and that Lecce exercised it correctly.

The club therefore considers the player’s move to Libya to have occurred while he was still contractually tied to Lecce.
From Lecce’s perspective, this is not simply a disagreement over whether Banda wanted to remain at the club.

It is about contractual stability.
The Italian club’s argument is essentially that if a player is contractually committed to a club, another club cannot simply sign and register him without respecting that existing agreement.

BANDA’S POSITION IS DIFFERENT

The player’s side has questioned the circumstances surrounding the contract extension.
Reports have suggested that Banda believed his original contract was approaching its end and that there was disagreement over the extension option.

There have also been reports raising questions about how the contractual documentation was handled.
However, those allegations remain disputed and should not be presented as established facts unless supported by an official decision or documentation.

What is clear is that the player and Lecce no longer appear to share the same interpretation of the contractual situation.

WHY AL-SWEHLY WANTED BANDA

For Al-Swehly, the attraction is understandable.
The club is looking to strengthen its squad and has ambitious continental objectives.

Banda brings experience from one of Europe’s major domestic leagues and has spent four seasons playing in Italy.
He is also a Zambian international with experience in African football before making his move to Europe.

His profile is therefore significantly different from the average domestic signing.
A player capable of operating from the wing, attacking defenders and creating opportunities would give Al-Swehly another attacking dimension.

BANDA’S BEST SEASON IN ITALY

The timing of the move is also significant because Banda is coming off one of his most productive campaigns in Serie A.
During the 2025/26 Serie A season, he recorded:

32 Serie A appearances
5 goals
4 assists
Soccerway’s statistical record confirms the same 32-match, five-goal and four-assist league return.

BeSoccer records 32 Serie A appearances, 1,760 minutes, five goals and four assists, with one additional Coppa Italia appearance.

Those numbers make the move particularly interesting.
Banda was not leaving Italy after an insignificant campaign.
He had just produced his most productive Serie A season by goal contribution.

THE FINAL LECHE CHAPTER

Banda’s time at Lecce began in 2022.
He joined the Italian club after spells in Russia and Israel.
His move to Lecce was a landmark moment for Zambian football because it placed another Zambian player in one of Europe’s biggest leagues.

Banda had previously played for ZESCO United and Buildcon in Zambia before moving to Russia with Arsenal Tula.
He then spent time on loan with Israeli clubs Maccabi Netanya and Maccabi Petah Tikva.

At Maccabi Petah Tikva, he produced a particularly strong campaign, helping attract attention from European clubs.
Lecce eventually signed him in August 2022.

FROM ZAMBIA TO SERIE A

Banda’s journey is important because it illustrates the pathway available to Zambian players when talent is combined with the right development environment and international exposure.
His career began in Zambia before progressing through:

Zambia → Russia → Israel → Italy
Now it could become:
Italy → Libya

The destination may be unexpected, but the move does not erase what Banda achieved in Italy.
He became an established Serie A player and accumulated more than 100 appearances for Lecce across competitions.
Footballdatabase lists him with 104 appearances for Lecce, while BeSoccer’s broader career database records 109 appearances for the club.

THE ZAMBIAN ANGLE

For Zambia, the most important question is what this means for the national team.
Banda remains one of the country’s most recognisable attacking players with European top-flight experience.
His move to Libya will inevitably generate debate.

Some may view a move away from Serie A to the Libyan league as a step down in terms of league profile.

Others will argue that regular football, a strong financial package and continental competition could provide a different route for the player’s career.

The latter point is particularly important.
If Al-Swehly is involved in CAF inter-club competition, Banda could potentially continue gaining high-level continental experience while playing a prominent role for his new club.

For Zambia, regular competitive football could ultimately be more important than the name of the league.

THE BIGGER LEGAL QUESTION

The Banda case could also become an interesting test of football’s transfer regulations.
The central question is not simply whether a player can move from Italy to Libya.

It is whether a player involved in a contractual dispute can obtain provisional registration elsewhere while the dispute is still being determined.

FIFA’s rules clearly contemplate such circumstances.

The 2026 FIFA Legal Journal explains that the system attempts to balance two competing principles:
contractual stability on one side, and protection of the player’s professional career on the other.

That balance appears particularly relevant in Banda’s situation.
Lecce wants its contractual rights protected.
Banda wants to continue his professional career.

Al-Swehly wants the player it believes it has signed.
FIFA must therefore manage the immediate registration issue while leaving the underlying contractual dispute to the appropriate legal process.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The reported clearance does not necessarily bring the entire matter to an end.

Several questions remain:

1. CAN BANDA PLAY IMMEDIATELY?
If the reported FIFA clearance has resulted in his provisional registration being completed, Banda should be able to represent Al-Swehly in official competition subject to the applicable registration requirements.

2. IS THE LECCE CONTRACT NOW INVALID?
Not necessarily.
A provisional registration does not itself decide the contractual dispute.

3. CAN LECCE SEEK COMPENSATION?
Potentially, depending on the final determination of the contractual dispute and any applicable FIFA rules.

4. CAN BANDA FACE SANCTIONS?
That would depend on the findings of the competent football authorities.

The clearance itself should not automatically be interpreted as a finding that Banda committed no contractual breach.

5. CAN AL-SWEHLY FACE CONSEQUENCES?
Again, that would depend on whether authorities ultimately determine that the Libyan club improperly induced or registered a player who remained contractually bound to Lecce.
These are matters that could continue even after Banda starts playing.

ZIT TV SPORTS ANALYSIS

From a purely sporting perspective, the move could make sense for Banda if it guarantees him regular football and a leading role.
From a career perspective, however, leaving Serie A at 25 is a significant decision.

Banda had just completed his most productive league season in Italy, recording five goals and four assists in 32 Serie A appearances.

That means this is not a case of a player being pushed out of European football because he could no longer compete at that level.

Instead, the move appears to be driven largely by the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his contractual relationship with Lecce and the opportunity presented by Al-Swehly.

The financial aspect could also be influential, although the reported Al-Swehly salary figure remains unconfirmed.
If Banda settles quickly in Libya, plays regularly and performs in continental football, the move could become a successful new chapter.

But if the contractual dispute eventually produces sanctions or financial liabilities, the consequences could follow him beyond the pitch.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR ONE OF ZAMBIA’S MOST EXPERIENCED EXPORTS

Whatever eventually happens in the legal dispute, Banda’s career has already taken him further than many Zambian players manage.
From Zambia’s domestic league to Russia.

From Russia to Israel.
From Israel to Serie A.
And now, potentially, from Italy to Libya.

The next chapter is likely to be watched closely not only in Zambia but across African football.

For now, the immediate sporting picture appears to be this:
Lameck Banda is in Libya.
Al-Swehly want him playing.
FIFA has reportedly cleared the way for his registration/play despite the dispute.

And Lecce’s contractual claim has not necessarily disappeared simply because Banda has been allowed to continue his career elsewhere.

That distinction will be crucial as this unusual transfer saga develops.

ZIT TV SPORTS  KEY TAKEAWAYS

 Lameck Banda: Zambian international winger
 Former club: US Lecce
 New club: Al-Swehly SC
 Lecce extension: Until 30 June 2027
⚽ 2025/26 Serie A: 32 appearances, 5 goals, 4 assists
 Dispute: Banda vs Lecce over contractual status
️ FIGC: Initially rejected the international clearance request
 FIFA: Reportedly cleared/provisionally authorised Banda to play for Al-Swehly

⚖️ Important: Registration/clearance does not necessarily represent a final ruling on the underlying contract dispute
 Current situation: Banda is already in Libya with Al-Swehly
________________________________________
ZIT TV SPORTS EDITORIAL POSITION

This is a developing story.

ZIT TV Sports understands that the reported FIFA clearance concerns Banda’s ability to continue his professional career with Al-Swehly, while the underlying contractual disagreement with Lecce remains a separate matter.

We will continue to distinguish between confirmed decisions, claims made by the respective parties and reported developments as the case progresses.

 Article: ZIT TV Sports
 Photo: Relevant source
️ Voice Note: Relevant source
 Information: US Lecce, FIFA Legal Journal, ANSA, Soccerway, BeSoccer and other cited sources
© 2026 ZIT TV Sports  All Rights Reserved.