Macarthur FC has been handed a significant blow after FIFA imposed a recruitment ban on the club, barring them from signing new players until the middle of 2026 unless they pay compensation owed to former coach Dwight Yorke. The ban, which applies to both domestic and international player signings, stems from the club’s failure to comply with a ruling that requires them to compensate Yorke for wrongful dismissal.

According to a recent report in Australia's Sunday Morning Herald, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently upheld a decision made by FIFA's Players' Status Chamber (PSC) that Macarthur FC must pay Yorke AU$212,500, a sum that has now risen to AU$290,000 with interest. Yorke was sacked from his position as head coach after a post-match dressing room outburst in January 2023. The court found that the club breached his contract and terminated him without just cause.

Macarthur, who recently claimed the 2024 Australia Cup with a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, will be unable to sign new talent during the A-League’s upcoming January 2024 transfer window, as well as future windows, if they fail to resolve the outstanding payment. The ban will be in place until the payment is made in full, along with any accrued interest.

In a letter addressed to Macarthur FC, FIFA's head of disciplinary, Américo Espallargas, emphasized the seriousness of the club’s failure to meet its financial obligations to Yorke. The letter also stated that if the full amount is not paid by the end of the current penalty, further disciplinary measures could be enforced at Yorke’s request.

Macarthur FC had previously appealed the original PSC ruling, arguing that Yorke had damaged the club’s reputation following his explosive remarks during the January 2023 incident, but the appeal was rejected. Yorke had also lodged a counterclaim to seek additional compensation for the remainder of his contract, which would have exceeded AU$800,000 if successful, but this was dismissed due to a CAS rule change in 2010 making counterclaims inadmissible.

With the ban now in place, Macarthur FC's ability to compete at the highest level could be severely impacted as they miss out on crucial transfer windows until the matter is resolved. For now, the club remains in a precarious position, awaiting the resolution of a dispute that has reverberated across Australian football.

Dwight Yorke stepped down as Macarthur FC head coach after barely six months in charge as the former Manchester United striker was linked with another A-League post.

Yorke, 51, has been suggested as the man to take over from Steve Corica as boss of Sydney FC, the club where he spent a year as a player.

Macarthur said the club and Yorke had "mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately".

According to Macarthur, the agreement will allow Yorke "to pursue other opportunities".

His assistant, fellow former Trinidad and Tobago international Russell Latapy, has also left Macarthur.

Macarthur, based in the south-west suburbs of Sydney, are competing in their third A-League campaign. They won the Australia Cup under Yorke's leadership in October.

Yorke said of his departure: "I want to thank the chairman Gino Marra, CEO Sam Krslovic, all the ownership group as well as all the staff and fans of Macarthur FC.

"I leave the football club with a great team that will continue to challenge for more silverware."

Macarthur sit sixth in the A-League but have lost six of 13 games this season, while Sydney FC are worse off, in ninth place in the 12-team competition.

The News.com.au website said Yorke was set to step in at Sydney, although Corica remains in charge there for now, with his team suffering a 1-0 defeat to Western United on Saturday.

The A-League's official website reported Yorke and the Macarthur board clashed after Friday's 1-0 defeat to Adelaide United.

Former Trinidad and Tobago and Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has signed a deal to coach Macarthur FC in Australia’s A-League. Yorke replaces Ante Milicic and will lead the Bulls for the next two seasons in what will be his first role as a senior coach.

“Having played in the augural A-League Men’s season I have continually followed the competition and am aware of both the footballing and fan demands in Australia,” said Yorke, who played for Sydney FC in the augural season of the A-League.

“I look forward to adding a positive contribution and improve the game at all levels. Of course, my primary focus will be with the Bulls, to deliver them success and a style of football that defined me as a player.”

Yorke, 50, enjoyed a successful career as a player. He won the treble – Premier League, FA Cup and  Champions League in his first season with Manchester United in 1999 when he scored 18 goals to be the leading scorer in the league.

He represented Trinidad and Tobago on 72 occasions scoring 19 goals.

Dwight Yorke is determined to achieve success in style in his first head coach role with A-League side Macarthur.

The former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker was on Sunday confirmed as Ante Milicic's successor, signing a two-year deal with the Bulls.

Trinidad and Tobago legend Yorke, who spent a spell with Sydney FC during his illustrious playing career, is ready to take his long-awaited opportunity with both hands.

He told the club's official website: "I am extremely excited in what is my first-ever senior full-time head coaching role, to take the reins at Macarthur FC.

"Having played in the inaugural A-League men's season, I have continually followed the competition, and am aware of both the footballing and fan demands in Australia.

"I look forward to adding a positive contribution and improve the game at all levels, however of course my primary focus will be with the Bulls, to deliver them success and a style of football that defined me as a player."

Macarthur chief executive Sam Krslovic said: "On behalf of the board of Macarthur FC, I would like to welcome Dwight to the club.

"Dwight's football exposure and achievements speak volumes for themselves. As a young club, the appointment of Dwight is synonymous with our evolution."

Nishan Velupillay came off the bench to score the winner as Melbourne Victory defeated Adelaide United 2-1 in a thrilling A-League encounter.

One of the fiercest rivalries in the A-League served up a treat on Saturday, as Victory came away with Original Rivalry spoils.

There was no shortage of action – the match seeing 35 goal attempts in total and an 88th-minute red card for Victory full-back Jason Davidson.

His dismissal for a second yellow-card offence came 10 minutes after Velupillay was teed up by fellow substitute Robbie Kruse to tap in from close range and decisively restore Victory's lead.

Francesco Margiotta put the visitors ahead in the 59th minute, but Adelaide had responded through Jacob Tratt 11 minutes later.

Melbourne's win ended a run of three A-League defeats to Adelaide and brought up their first win at the home of their rivals since January 2017.

While Adelaide are still winless, Victory's success sees them move onto nine points in second place, behind Macarthur FC, who made it three wins on the bounce with a 2-0 triumph at Western Sydney Wanderers.

Tomislav Uskok and Jake Hollman got on the scoresheet for the league leaders, who are the only unbeaten team so far in 2021-22.

Bottom side Brisbane Roar's dismal start to the campaign continued in the early game, with Connor Pain's goal delivering a 1-0 win for Western United.

Antonee Burke-Gilroy scored his first A-League goal and created another as Perth Glory beat 10-man Melbourne Victory 3-0 to leave Macarthur top of the table.

Victory went into Sunday's clash at AAMI Park on a high from winning their opening two games of the season, but they were brought back down to earth by Perth.

Rai Marchan was shown a straight red card for catching Bruno Fornaroli with a high boot following a VAR check and Glory capitalised to claim their first win of the campaign.

New signing Burke-Gilroy opened the scoring with a sweet left-foot strike from outside the penalty area after 66 minutes, before whipping in a cross for Ciaran Bramwell to nod beyond Ivan Kelava.

Captain Fornaroli rifled in a third with his right foot from 20 yards out in the closing stages as Perth ended a run of six matches without an A-League win.

Macarthur rose to the summit courtesy of an own goal from Central Coast Mariners captain Oliver Bozanic on the stroke of half-time.

Ulises Davila's strike deflected off Bozanic and in for the only goal of the game to give Macarthur a first regular-season win over the Mariners at Panthers Stadium, where Central Coast goalkeeper Yaren Sozer was forced off with a suspected torn hamstring.

Jamaica international Adrian Mariappa has secured a surprise move to Australia Super League club Macarthur FC.

The 35-year-old defender had been without a club since May of this year, after being released by English Championship club Bristol City.  The player had, however, continued to show strong form with his country’s national team, playing in 6 games.

Mariappa was linked with a move back to England with Sheffield Wednesday, who are coached by another former Jamaica international Darren Moore.  The club reportedly offered the out-of-contract player a deal, but he opted for the Super League move instead.

For his part, Mariappa insists he is excited and looking forward to the new challenge.

“I want to thank the owners and the football staff for having faith in me and making this happen,” Mariappa said.

“When the opportunity to join the Bulls arrived, it was one I couldn’t turn down. It’s an exciting new challenge for me in my career and that for me is what I thrive off,” he added.

“I’m hungry to achieve great things with the club and create new memories with the team and the fans.”

Macarthur have won one and drawn one of their two games so far in the 2021/22 season.