BSC vetoes Robinho's move to Real Madrid
BSC vetoes Robinho's move to Real Madrid
Associated Press, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Brazilian Soccer Confederation said on Friday that it will
not allow Robinho's transfer to Real Madrid unless the US$50
million (euro41.3 million) buyout clause stipulated in the
player's contract with Santos is fully paid.
The Brazilian confederation, or CBF, also alerted that FIFA
may give Robinho a four-month suspension if he breaks his
contract with Santos.
"CBF cannot allow the transfer because the current request
does not follow the requirements of the law," the confederation
said in statement released on its Web site.
"In Robinho's contract, there is a buyout clause of US$50
million (euro41.3 million) ... which has not been paid yet."
Madrid said on Thursday it had paid US$30 million (euro24.78
million) for Santos' 60 percent stake of buyout clause, and
Robinho and his agent Wagner Ribeiro, who together own the
remainder of the 21-year-old forward's playing rights, would
waive their portion of the fee in order to facilitate the deal.
The confederation said that Robinho was not free to forego his
share of the fee because the clubs hadn't agreed to reduce the
buyout clause.
"If the player appeals to a labor court, we will inform FIFA,"
CBF lawyer Valed Perry told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper
earlier Friday. "Robinho will achieve nothing and in addition he
will be suspended. If he appeals directly to FIFA he won't
achieve anything either."
According to CBF, FIFA can suspend Robinho for up to four
months if the player breaks his contract with Santos while a
competition is underway.
Ribeiro may also be suspended by FIFA for orienting Robinho to
break the contract.
Santos president Marcelo Teixeira is trying to retain Robinho
for at least one more season.
Robinho, whose contract with Santos runs until 2008, has
refused to train with the Brazilian club since helping Brazil win
the Confederations Cup in late June, and has missed seven
Brazilian championship matches.
He has been fined an undisclosed amount by Santos for every
day he has failed to appear.