Mersey
club hope to break Fifa rules impasse
Mascherano has become a peripheral figure at
the club
Liverpool have agreed to sign Javier Mascherano from West Ham
United until the end of the season with a view to a longer-term
deal, though there still appears to be a major obstacle to overcome
if the move is to be completed. Fifa said last night it would
refuse to sanction the transfer.
Mascherano arrived at Upton Park from Corinthians on transfer
deadline day in August having already represented the Brazilian
club in competitive action since the World Cup finals. Article
Five, Paragraph Three of Fifa's regulations stipulates that, while
players can be registered for a maximum of three clubs from July 1
until June 30 the following year, they are eligible to play for
only two in that time.
The West Ham manager, Alan Curbishley, who has agreed a fee of £5m
with Fulham for Luis Boa Morte, is already planning for life
without Mascherano despite Fifa indicating last night that the
rules would technically prevent the Argentina midfielder from
completing a loan move to Anfield. Indeed, it is understood to have
outlined the situation to the West Ham owner, Eggert Magnusson,
when asked at the end of November.
"Our understanding, as of today, is the rule is binding," said a
Fifa spokesman. "That means that, if a player has already played
and registered and been eligible for two clubs from the period of
July 1 to June 30, he is not any longer eligible for another club
until the next period begins [on July 1]. There is no provision
that allows for any kind of waiving of this rule."
Benítez will also add the Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill to
his ranks this month, with Stephen Warnock possibly moving in the
other direction. While both Neill and Mascherano have played in the
Uefa Cup this season, Liverpool will most likely submit the
Australian as their one additional eligible player for their
Champions League campaign under new Uefa rules, leaving the
Argentinian as cover for Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in domestic
competition. The 22-year-old has made only seven appearances for
West Ham and none since Curbishley took over.
