Banda’s Libyan move sparks legal clash as Al Swehly mocks Lecce

Lameck Banda has completed a move to Al Swehly, prompting US Lecce to launch a legal battle after the player breached his contract. The Libyan side announced the signing with a mistake‑filled video, while fans of US Lecce watched the Serie A clash with ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on April 20, 2026.

Legal battle escalates

Lecce had an option to extend Banda’s contract to June 2027, and the clause was activated. Banda, however, insisted he was unaware of the extension and claimed the agreement was invalid. The Lega Serie A blocked the transfer, but FIFA granted Al Swehly a temporary registration while investigations continue. The incident was reported from LECCE, ITALY – APRIL 20.

The dispute has lingered throughout the summer, with Banda going AWOL from pre‑season training before attempting to force the move to Al Swehly. Lecce have warned they will take the case to a tribunal, seeking a ban on the player and sanctions against the Libyan club.

Video mockery draws criticism

The Libyan club Al Swehly released a video that stitches together Italian media clips asking ‘Where has he gone?’ and then shows a printer printing his registration in Libya followed by his presentation. Libyans mocked Lecce throughout, but the clip opens with footage of Lecco, a Tuscan town, not the Salento‑based US Lecce.

The club posted the video on Instagram under the handle نادي السويحلي (@swehlyclub), inviting further ridicule. Observers noted the error as a sign of disrespect toward a club they had effectively taken a player from.

Images from the saga, including a photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images, have circulated online, underscoring the bitter tone of the ongoing legal fight. Both clubs remain entrenched, with no resolution in sight for now.