This Saturday, 31 January 2026, FERWAFA officially opened a two-day Legal and Governance Retreat, bringing together the Legal and Governance Commission, the FERWAFA Independent Arbitration Tribunal, and senior leadership of the Federation for a moment of reflection, alignment, and institutional strengthening, with one objective; « strong football begins with strong governance. »
The retreat, which runs until Sunday, 01 February 2026, is presided over by the FERWAFA First Vice President in charge of Administration and Finance, Me Claudine Gasarabwe, alongside the FERWAFA General Secretary, Mr. Bonnie Mugabe.
In her opening remarks, Me Claudine Gasarabwe underscored the importance of using the retreat as a platform for honest exchanges and shared understanding among football’s legal actors.
“This retreat is about aligning our institutions,” she said.
“When governance is clear, football flows. When the rules are understood and respected, disputes reduce and confidence grows.”
Participants will engage in structured discussions on the governance relationship between FIFA, CAF, and FERWAFA, examining how international regulations are interpreted, applied, and enforced at national level, and how exchanges with global and continental bodies can be further strengthened.
A key focus of the opening day is the collaboration between FERWAFA and the League, with sessions dedicated to clarifying mandates, legal boundaries, and coordination mechanisms.
The exchanges aim to reduce institutional overlap, reinforce complementarity, and ensure that all competitions operate under a clear and unified legal framework that protects clubs, players, and officials alike.
The retreat is also dedicating significant time to arbitration and player status matters, with members of the Independent Arbitration Tribunal sharing experiences and challenges encountered in dispute resolution.
Discussions include:
• Arbitration procedures and jurisprudence exchanges
• Player status regulations and contractual disputes
• Consistency and timeliness in decision-making
“An independent and competent arbitration system is a pillar of good governance, providing legal certainty, fairness, and trust for all football stakeholders.” Me. Claudine said.
Over the two days, participants are reviewing FERWAFA’s statutes and internal regulations, with a focus on improving clarity and alignment with FIFA and CAF standards.
Key procedural themes include:
• Filing of complaints and the right to defense
• Issuing of decisions and legal reasoning
• Authorities entitled to appear before commissions
• Implementation of decisions and enforcement of sanctions
These discussions are expected to lead to concrete recommendations for regulatory updates and procedural harmonization.
As the retreat continues into Sunday, 01 February 2026, it is expected to conclude with:
• Clear reform-oriented recommendations
• Improved coordination between legal bodies
• Renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance
With discussions now underway, FERWAFA’s Legal and Governance Retreat marks an important step toward building a more robust, predictable, and trusted legal framework for Rwandan football.