La Liga giants FC Barcelona have been trying to register new signing Arda Turan despite their transfer ban until January 2016, but with FIFA remaining unresponsive, the Catalans have confirmed they will take the battle to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
Following the anterior cruciate ligament injury Rafael AlcA?ntara picked up in last month’s UEFA Champions League clash against AS Roma, Barcelona have been trying to register Turkey international Arda Turan in their squad for domestic competitions, believing that the Spanish league rules allow them to do so despite the transfer ban.
With FIFA rejecting their appeal last month, and reportedly failing to respond to the request the Catalans made last week, the club confirmed that they will continue to pursue this matter and will make an appeal to the CAS.
Barcelona confirm CAS appeal
The club confirmed on Wednesday that they intend to make an appeal to the CAS in order to register Arda Turan and provide a much-needed boost to their squad. Barcelona currently sit fourth in the league table behind Villarreal, Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, but the injury to Lionel Messi and the lack of depth in the squad has raised questions about the Catalans’ ability to cope with a demanding schedule.
A statement on the club website (via ESPN . ) read: “The legal department has confirmed that FIFA has not responded to the latest request presented on Friday, the third the club made. Given the lack of a reply, an appeal will be presented tomorrow Thursday to FIFA’s appeals committee as a precursor to an appeal to CAS.”
Earlier, reports in the Spanish media claimed FIFA rejected the first appeal Barcelona made, with the governing body insisting that Turan would only be allowed to be registered in January next year.
Winning CAS appeal could be a game-changer for Barcelona
Although the Blaugrana have already lost a CAS appeal relating to the initial transfer ban handed to them by FIFA, the club’s announcement that they will pursue the matter regarding Turan’s registration is a good sign for the player and the fans.
The former Atl tico Madrid man probably feels wanted and appreciated, while the fans get the welcome message that the club are making every attempt to bolster a worryingly thin squad. With both Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta out injured at the moment, Luis Enrique’s side have lost two of their most creative players.
The registration of Arda Turan, then, will be a game-changer if they can manage to pull it off. Barcelona would be adding a quality, experienced attacker to a first-team squad that is crying out for exactly that after the departure of Pedro for Chelsea FC last summer, and the numerous injuries to first-team players, including Messi.
