LFA Elections Dilemma: Court Re-issues Injunction Amidst Candidate Eligibility Disputes

Monrovia, Liberia: The Liberia Football Association (LFA) scheduled April 18, 2026 Elective Congress has faced another setback following a permanent injunction placed on the body's electoral process by the Civil Law Court amidst an ongoing legal battle over the FA candidate eligibility rules.

The injunction issued on Tuesday, March 24, was requested by embattled presidential aspirant Cassell A. Kouh through his legal team. This comes barely a week when the court issued and lifted a temporary injunction on the very the election activities.

Kouh's legal team petitioned the court to halt all activities of the FA electoral process until a ruling is made to determine his (Cassell A. Kouh) fate to contest.

Following arguments between the legal team representing Cassell A. Kouh and the legal representatives of the LFA, presiding Judge Peter Gbeneweleh moved to issue an injunction on the Football House pending April 18 elections.

The plaintiff, Kouh's legal camp, now argues that the set April 18 election may not proceed as scheduled due to the timing of the injunction, which comes less than 30 days before the elections.

Attorney Joseph Howe, a member of Kouh's team, emphasized that there could be a new date for the elections to fit a 30-day notice period for registration, stating that no law supersedes the Liberian constitution.

"The law says the date for the election should be 30 days after the deadline for registration. So, the April 18 date is not possible. The judge agreed with us. We tell the Court that before you determine the substantive matter, let the election process stop," Howe stated.

Kouh's eligibility to contention stemmed from his conviction for investment fraud in the United States in 2017.

This is challenged by the Football House under Article 58.1 of its Statutes, which states that "The President, Vice Presidents, and Executive Committee members shall not have been found guilty of criminal offence."

Kouh has accused the election committee of the LFA of implementing guidelines he believes are inconsistent with the statutes of the football body, claiming they violate his rights.

He alleged that the election guidelines are biased regarding the eligibility criteria to prevent him from running. He has since taken the LFA to civil court to seek further interpretation of the statutes.

Kouh's legal team maintains that his criminal record should not bar him from contesting. They argue that Article 58.1 of the LFA Statutes contravenes Article 2 and Article 21(j) of the Liberian Constitution.

Article 2 of the Liberian Constitution establishes it as the supreme and fundamental law of the country, binding all authorities and individuals.

Article 21(j) mandates the automatic restoration of civil rights and liberties to anyone convicted of a crime after serving their sentence, satisfying penalties, or receiving a presidential pardon.

The plaintiff's side mentioned that Kouh has served his penalty for the crime committed in the U.S., and he should be protected under the Liberian law to contest the LFA elections.

Meanwhile, the Liberia Football Association's defense lawyers contend that football matters are addressed through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and not a civil courtroom, calling for the dismissal of Kouh's case.

The defense team also noted that Cassell A. Kouh, as a former Vice President, helped shape Article 58.1 of the LFA statutes, which bans candidates with criminal records from contesting any elected positions.

With an injunction in place on the elections, the court is expected to hear the eligibility case involving Kouh and the FA in the coming days. This will determine whether Kouh is eligible to run in the body's elections.

The legal battle unfolds at a time when FIFA has warned that any court interference that overturns the statutes of the local football body could risk Liberia being suspended from international competitions.