As Barcelona are fighting against the transfer window ban imposed on them by FIFA, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has come out to support the decision taken by football’s governing body. Earlier this week, the Catalans were sanctioned for illegally transferring under-18 players. Commenting on that, Wenger told the press:
“They were banned because they have not respected the rules. The rule is quite simple, you cannot move the players before the age of 16 unless their parents move for professional reasons.
“So that of course creates a bit of a debate - do the parents move for professional reasons or not?
“In this case, Fifa has judged the parents moved for football reasons and that is why they were banned because they have not respected the rules.”
La Masia has produced top players. Anything wrong with its administration?
On Thursday, Barcelona vice president Javier Faus asserted that Barcelona were victims of a plot carried out by rivals. However, Real Madrid vice president Pedro L. Jimenez has refuted any possible accusation. He was quoted as saying by AS:
“Neither Real Madrid, nor myself as a member of Fifa, have anything to do with the sanction that's been handed to Barcelona. My membership of the Players' Status Committee is unrelated to Florentino Perez and Madrid.
“My appointment was a proposal of the European Club Association (ECA), of which Barcelona are a member, too. In neither of the two meetings that I attended did we discuss a sanction for Barcelona.
“I want to make it clear that the Players' Status Committee does not have the power to hand out any sanctions. All we do is study the documents that we receive. I have nothing to do with Barcelona's sanction.”
Expect more words to be exchanged on this matter...
