JOSEPH Ndo could face imprisonment for unwittingly playing in the League of Ireland without a valid work permit — and the midfielder's former club, Bohemians, could be fined for a breach of the Employment Permits Act.
Ndo, 33, played for Bohs last season when his work permit, which runs until February 2011, stated that St Patrick's Athletic, his previous club, were his legal employers. According to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 'all employment permits issued are employer and location specific and are only valid for the employer and in the occupation named on the permit'. By playing for Bohs last season when permitted only to pay for St Pat's, the Cameroon midfielder could be open to prosecution under Section 19 of the 2006 Act which carries penalties of a 12-month sentence and a 5,000 fine. Ndo's permit problem surfaced when Sligo Rovers went to register him as their player for the 2010 season.
Under a new League rule, all non-EEA nationals must produce a valid work permit to play in the competition this season. Ironically, had the League decided no work permit was required, Ndo could probably have played for Sligo without anyone's antennae getting twitchy in the Department. As it is, by bringing in what they call best practice, the League risks losing one of its best midfielders. PFAI chief Stephen McGuinness last night called for League clubs and the FAI to rally around Ndo's cause.
'The League needs players like Joseph Ndo. He's a fantastic professional and there has to be a way to resolve this,' he added.
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