South African football has been drawn into a fresh legal dispute involving Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane, following allegations of an unpaid R1.25 million commission linked to his appointment at Iranian club Esteghlal.

The case was brought before the Johannesburg High Court by Iranian football agent Hamed Ghadiri, who claims he played a significant role in arranging Mosimane's move to the club but was never compensated for his services.

According to court documents cited by the Sunday Times, Ghadiri alleges that Moira Tlhagale's sports management company, MT Sports Marketing and Management, authorised him in October 2024 to approach Esteghlal regarding the possible appointment of Mosimane and his technical team.

The agent maintains that his involvement helped secure an employment offer from the Iranian side, eventually leading to Mosimane signing a contract on October 18, 2024.

At the centre of the disagreement is an alleged agreement involving a $100,000 agency commission expected from Esteghlal. Ghadiri claims MT Sports promised him 75% of the anticipated fee, amounting to $75,000, in recognition of his contribution to facilitating the appointment.

However, he alleges that the agreed payment was never made despite his involvement in the negotiations.

Ghadiri has also reportedly presented a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by Mosimane on February 28, 2025, as part of his evidence. According to the agent, Mosimane assured him that he should not be concerned about the outstanding commission because his wife would make arrangements to address the matter.

He further claims that Mosimane indicated the payment issue would be resolved after his financial disagreement with Esteghlal over unpaid salaries had been handled through the appropriate football authorities.

However, Tlhagale and MT Sports have challenged several aspects of the allegations in their court response. Although they reportedly acknowledge that Ghadiri introduced Mosimane to the Iranian club, they argue that his authority was restricted to establishing the club's interest in appointing the coach.

They deny authorising him to negotiate contractual terms, finalise agreements or claim the agency commission. They also maintain that subsequent negotiations were conducted by FIFA-registered agent Alfonso Leon Lleo alongside Tlhagale.

The defendants further dispute the validity of the alleged service agreement, arguing that it was not properly signed. They also contend that payment to Ghadiri depended on MT Sports first receiving the commission from Esteghlal, which allegedly failed to pay the expected amount.

Mosimane's departure from Esteghlal in January 2025 followed unresolved salary payments involving him and his technical team.

The Johannesburg High Court will now have to determine the parties' contractual responsibilities and whether Ghadiri is entitled to the disputed commission.

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