DUBAI // Al Wasl say they are not satisfied with the Football Association’s decision regarding the late registration of players, with the club still seeking to take their case to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
On Wednesday, the Football Association decided the four deals concerning local players would be considered null and void, meaning Mohammed Nasser and Saeed Suroor return from Baniyas to Wasl and Al Ahli, respectively, while Fujairah’s transfer of Ahmed Ibrahim and Al Shaab’s move for Ahmed Jumaa have been also revoked.
However, since Suroor was part of the player-plus-cash deal that brought Carlos Munoz from Baniyas, his situation remains unclear.
Meanwhile, the FA maintain Hugo Viana will not be available for selection at Wasl until the January window opens. Viana was released by Ahli before the 12am deadline on October 3 and signed a one-year contract with the Dubai club.
Yet, because his registration was not made official until after midnight, an allowance the FA subsequently deemed invalid, the governing body have determined that Viana cannot be included in Wasl's match-day squad. Neto Berola, the Brazilian striker let go to make room for Viana, has been restored to the Wasl squad.
Wasl, though, are not pleased with the decision and will refer the issue to CAS, the Switzerland-based final arbiter of sports disputes, once Yousuf Al Serkal, the FA president, signs an agreement to move the case forward. Wasl were waiting on Thursday for an FA response.
"Al Wasl are expecting more than this; the FA have dropped the ball again," said Mohammed Al Amri, a Wasl board member. "Regardless of what they have decided, we are going to move forward with our case because we see this as no favour from the FA. They did not do anything for us, so this is our right. After that, whatever CAS say we are going to accept."
In response to Wasl’s stance, Mohammed Hazzam Al Dhaheri, the FA’s acting general secretary, said: “Everything will return to how it was and everyone will just wait until the transfers take place in January. If anybody wants to come back to us and then go to CAS, that is their opinion and that is their right. They can do whatever they want.”
Mohammed Al Menhali, a Baniyas board member, said the club would have no comment until they have clarification from the FA.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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