Unrepentant Barca look for FIFA loophole to allow them to play Arda Turan

Arda Turan

By Mark Baber
September 23 – Barcelona, have asked the Spanish football federation and FIFA to allow them to play their summer acquisition Arda Turan, a player who was signed during their transfer ban, on the understanding he would not play until January, as soon as possible.

Despite being banned from transferring players due to their illegal signing of under-age players from abroad, Barcelona were allowed to sign Turan from Atletico Madrid, as well as Aleix Vidal from Sevilla on the understanding they would not be allowed to play until January.

Now, with Rafinha being out of action recovering from a knee operation, Barcelona hope to use the regulations which allow players to be replaced outside normal transfer windows in emergency cases such as injury, to get around the ban.

A Barcelona spokesman said: “The club has contacted the Spanish federation and FIFA to ask whether they can replace Rafinha. Looking into the regulations it seems as though it is possible to register him as the two transfer windows are now passed.”

Injuries forced Barcelona to use youth players Sandro Ramirez and Munir El Haddadi in their win over Levante on Sunday. The club has won four games on a row and suffered little in terms of results as it continues to show no remorse over breaking FIFA regulations and does everything possible to ensure they have minimal effect.

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735047294labto1735047294ofdlr1735047294owedi1735047294sni@r1735047294ebab.1735047294kram1735047294