Lionel Messi could be at risk of getting a ban from FIFA if his contract issue with Barcelona goes in the wrong direction.
No one could ever believe La Pulga and Barca would get to this stage.
For a player who has spent his professional years at Camp Nou, many tipped Messi to retire at Barcelona.
Going by the latest turn of events, the likelihood of the above is pretty slim.
Yesterday, Messi handed in a transfer request even though he remains under contract until the summer of 2021. The clause which allowed the Argentine that luxury expired back on July 10. Further reports say Barca are ready to thrash it out with their beloved player in court.
A sports lawyer has explained some likely outcomes of the ongoing contract saga between Messi and Barcelona.
De Marco, who has represented sport’s governing bodies, players, clubs and agents since 2002 explains that FIFA might have to come in play if the situation goes down the wire.
“If it ended up anywhere, it would be most likely in the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber because Messi, being Argentinian, the FIFA rules would apply, and FIFA has its own set of laws and rules,” De Marco, of Blackstone Chambers, told Sky Sports News.
“One possibility, and it’s certainly not one I’m advising anybody, is a player simply just walks out and says, ‘I’m entitled to walk out, so I’m walking out’.
“The risk with that strategy is, although FIFA will normally allow the registration to move with the player, if the club then brings a claim and succeeds, not only is the player liable to [pay] damages but also is likely to be banned under FIFA rules for a period of months and the new club signing him have a transfer embargo.”
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