The UAE Football Association has rejected the registration of the five players controversially signed in the hours following the close of the summer transfer window, leaving them in limbo until January.
The board of directors met on Sunday (October 26) to make a final decision on the matter which has dogged them since chairman of the organisation’s Commission on the Status and Transfer of Players, Nasser Al Yamahi, extended the period beyond the deadline at midnight on Thursday, October 2 until 02:00.
Al Yamahi has since resigned from the position.
During that time, Portugal midfielder Hugo Viana joined Al Wasl from Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli, Bani Yas registered Mohammed Nasser and Saad Suroor, Fujairah signed Ahmed Ibrahim and Division One outfit Al Shaab bought Ahmed Jumaa. The quintet will now be unable to feature until registration opens again in the new year, despite being owned by their new clubs who will pay their wages without being able to select them.
The last few weeks have seen the UAE FA frantically try to solve the problem, which brought them into conflict with world governing body FIFA as it contravened Article VI of their Regulations on the Status and Transfers of Players. A vote was held by the 14 Arabian Gulf League clubs on the matter last week, with 12 supporting the decision to extend.
A delegation travelled to meet representatives from the English Premier League, while Italian legal expert Mario Gallavotti was consulted to find a solution.
These ventures were to no avail, however, with a meeting headed by UAE FA president HE Yousuf Al Serkal bringing a close to the issue.
“It has been agreed not to approve the extension of the deadline,” secretary general Mohammed Abdulla Hazzam said. “After the correspondence with FIFA and the opinion of the experts, we realised that the best option is to invalidate the registration.
“Regarding the fate of the players, the board decided to keep their registration pending with their current clubs until the next registration window while they will not be allowed to return to their respective original clubs.
“We appreciate the amount of damages that has been sustained by the clubs, but we didn’t receive any complaint from them so far. No damages would be payable except in the event of official complain that could be lodged by the said club.”
Fujairah chief executive Sultan Al Shara said they were “happy to accept” the call, Bani Yas officials were awaiting official documentation before discussing it and Al Wasl held a board meeting last night ahead of releasing a statement on Monday.
He said: “We will accept the decision, we are happy to do it. Fujairah will always support the decisions of the UAE FA.
“Ahmed Ibrahim is our contracted player. Inshallah, we will register him to play from January.”
