Mascherano wants to quit West Ham

[Neil Young]

Perhaps there is a case to be made about restraint of trade and it could be argued in court but wouldn't such a case take a while to get through? i.e. it wouldn't be completed by the 1st of February there for we wouldn't be able to sign Mascherano in January.

Sure. My point though was that FIFA might not want it to go to court in which case they would find a loophole.

[kurtangle01]

BOSMAN

freedom of work?


the loophole where you pay off your own contract you become a free agent, does this apply here. If so who owns the contract WH or the holding company

That's something that concerns me. I f we sign him who "owns" the player, his agents or us? That doesn't sit well with me. The deal that took them to West Ham was very suspicious and I wouldn't want us to be in a similar boat should he sign.

[kurtangle01]

Sure. My point though was that FIFA might not want it to go to court in which case they would find a loophole.

Ah okay, I see where you're coming from now. Perhaps they would but for some reason I just can't see them bending their rules on this occasion. Perhaps I'm wrong.

[Neil Young]

Ah okay, I see where you're coming from now. Perhaps they would but for some reason I just can't see them bending their rules on this occasion. Perhaps I'm wrong.

Perhaps you are, perhaps I am, perhaps it will never happen for other reasons.

[redlancer]

Ah okay, I see where you're coming from now. Perhaps they would but for some reason I just can't see them bending their rules on this occasion. Perhaps I'm wrong.

there seems to be a lot of talk of this transfer, if there wasn't a chance cos of rule and regs wouldn't it be squashed instantly

smoke and fire comes to mind

maybe we're about to see a massive shake up in the way footbal transfers happen.

[Craig_H]

Liverpool make move for Mascherano


Mersey club hope to break Fifa rules impasse; Curbishley aims to fill gap with £5m Boa Morte

Dominic Fifield and Jon Brodkin
Friday January 5, 2007
The Guardian


Liverpool have agreed to sign Javier Mascherano from West Ham United until the end of the season with a view to a longer-term deal, though there still appears to be a major obstacle to overcome if the move is to be completed. Fifa said last night it would refuse to sanction the transfer.
Mascherano arrived at Upton Park from Corinthians on transfer deadline day in August having already represented the Brazilian club in competitive action since the World Cup finals. Article Five, Paragraph Three of Fifa's regulations stipulates that, while players can be registered for a maximum of three clubs from July 1 until June 30 the following year, they are eligible to play for only two in that time.

The West Ham manager, Alan Curbishley, who has agreed a fee of £5m with Fulham for Luis Boa Morte, is already planning for life without Mascherano despite Fifa indicating last night that the rules would technically prevent the Argentina midfielder from completing a loan move to Anfield. Indeed, it is understood to have outlined the situation to the West Ham owner, Eggert Magnusson, when asked at the end of November.
"Our understanding, as of today, is the rule is binding," said a Fifa spokesman. "That means that, if a player has already played and registered and been eligible for two clubs from the period of July 1 to June 30, he is not any longer eligible for another club until the next period begins [on July 1]. There is no provision that allows for any kind of waiving of this rule."

Yet Mascherano's representatives, Media Sports Investments, whose founder Kia Joorabchian brokered his move alongside that of Carlos Tevez from Brazil to east London with the company retaining the players' image rights, are convinced a deal can still be struck even if they must challenge Fifa to force completion. The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez, is understood to share that confidence, with the player having agreed personal terms and the transfer discussed at length at a board meeting yesterday. The deal is expected to be a loan with an option to purchase at the end of the season.

Benítez will also add the Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill to his ranks this month, with Stephen Warnock possibly moving in the other direction. While both Neill and Mascherano have played in the Uefa Cup this season, Liverpool will most likely submit the Australian as their one additional eligible player for their Champions League campaign under new Uefa rules, leaving the Argentinian as cover for Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in domestic competition. The 22-year-old has made only seven appearances for West Ham and none since Curbishley took over.

The Hammers' new manager is on the verge of his first signing after agreeing to pay Fulham £5m for Boa Morte. The 29-year-old Portugal international had a medical yesterday and should complete the transfer today. It is possible Matthew Etherington will move in the opposite direction. West Ham are pursuing a number of other targets. Talks are ongoing with Chelsea about Shaun Wright-Phillips and the club have made an offer for the Birmingham City defender Matthew Upson. Curbishley believes Upson could add much needed steel to a team that has conceded nine goals in the past three games. The 27-year-old, who has seven England caps, played a significant part in keeping Birmingham in the Premiership after joining from Arsenal in January 2003.

Upson has declined to extend a contract at St Andrew's which has a season and a half to run and Birmingham want at least £5m for him. He is understood to favour a move to London, from where Tottenham have also kept a close eye on him. Curbishley is expected to allow departures from Upton Park and Reading are interested in the striker Bobby Zamora, who would cost about £2.5m.

While agreeing to sell Boa Morte, Fulham completed a deal to take the striker Vincenzo Montella from Roma on a six-month loan and hope to bring in Simon Davies from Everton. Fulham also accepted an offer of about £3m from Watford for Collins John but the striker is not keen to move to the Premiership's bottom club and will see if rival suitors emerge.

[The_weatherman]

This is taken from FIFA´s site. Seems Romario has gotten permission to transfer against these rules, so I might have to take it all back

A place in the history books
Compatriot and fellow sharpshooter Romario has his sights sets on one last objective before he follows suit.

The man they call O baixinho (Shorty) turns 41 on 29 January but he is determined to become only the second player after Pele to notch 1,000 career goals. The former Barcelona legend has amassed an amazing 986 goals with 10 different clubs and recent months have seen him embark on a worldwide odyssey in search of the mythical mark. Since leaving Flamengo in March 2006, he has donned the colours of Miami FC (USA), Adelaide United (Australia) and Tupi in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

Romario's quest has now taken him back to where it all started. Vasco de Gama, the club where he made his debut all those years ago, have given the 1994 world champion the opportunity to make history in the famous black and white jersey. "It would be a dream come true to reach the 1,000 mark with a great club at the Maracana," said the inimitable striker, who will no doubt have earned his pension should he reach the magical target.

And here it says that Romario hopes to get special permission from FIFA http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...273/index.html

[redlancer]

Yet Mascherano's representatives, Media Sports Investments, whose founder Kia Joorabchian brokered his move alongside that of Carlos Tevez from Brazil to east London with the company retaining the players' image rights, are convinced a deal can still be struck even if they must challenge Fifa to force completion. The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez, is understood to share that confidence, with the player having agreed personal terms and the transfer discussed at length at a board meeting yesterday. The deal is expected to be a loan with an option to purchase at the end of the season.

.

this is the clinch behind it, we won't need to do the fighting they will

as said before this could be a new bosman situation just hope we're not being setup here

[AFII]

From todays Echo...

Meanwhile, a deal to bring Javier Mascherano to the club is now close to completion.

The initial loan deal, which may become permanent later, could be concluded over the weekend or in the early part of next week.

Mascherano will provide cover for Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard, but at 22, the Argentinian is also seen as a potentially excellent long-term prospect.

Although he's perceived as a failure at West Ham, he was considered one of South America's hottest properties prior to his move to Upton Park.

Benitez will be confident the youngster will produce his best form under his management.

CLICKY - Echo

[bazza76]

From todays Echo...

Meanwhile, a deal to bring Javier Mascherano to the club is now close to completion.

The initial loan deal, which may become permanent later, could be concluded over the weekend or in the early part of next week.

Mascherano will provide cover for Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard, but at 22, the Argentinian is also seen as a potentially excellent long-term prospect.

Although he's perceived as a failure at West Ham, he was considered one of South America's hottest properties prior to his move to Upton Park.

Benitez will be confident the youngster will produce his best form under his management.

CLICKY - Echo

Good stuff

[Guest]

And that contradicts reports from some journos that FIFA would scupper the deal. Always knew that Bascombe did check that information before writing about it, contrary to some journos. (That he's not played for 2 clubs in the same year)

[tomasjj]

Get him in!

[Shaggy]

Love it!

[Red Chilli]

Get him in!

No

[nbryan1764]

And that contradicts reports from some journos that FIFA would scupper the deal. Always knew that Bascombe did check that information before writing about it, contrary to some journos. (That he's not played for 2 clubs in the same year)

he has though he played for Corinthians on th 27th August and got sent off. He has played 7 games for West Ham. He has played for two teams in the same year. Bascombe implied that the season ended in December in Brazil and it may well have done. However it was restarted after the World Cup