Liverpool have been given permission by Fifa to sign West Ham
outcast Javier Mascherano.
A deal between Liverpool and West Ham to take Mascherano to Anfield
had been agreed, but the move was being upheld by Fifa's transfer
regulations
The Reds petitioned the game's governing body to sign Mascherano
even though the Argentine has already played for two clubs in the
past 12 months.
Fifa rules forbid any player turning out for more than two clubs
over a one-year period between 1st July and 30th June the following
year.
However, Liverpool claimed that the player should be allowed to
move on as he does not figure in West Ham's plans and Fifa have
granted them special dispensation to push through a deal for the
former River Plate ace.
A statement from Fifa read: "After due consideration of all
aspects, the Fifa single judge ruled that 'upon registration for
Liverpool FC during the present registration period, the player
Javier Mascherano is eligible to play in official matches with the
said club with immediate effect'."
"Particular emphasis was given to the safeguard of the sporting
integrity and the crucial element of overlapping sports seasons
between associations, notably in cases in which a sports season
starts prior and ends beyond July 1.
"Yet, the single judge made it clear that such permission can only
be granted under very restrictive preconditions, such as they exist
in the case at stake, yet never occurred in a case that was
submitted to the attention of the competent deciding bodies at an
earlier stage.
"In particular, he emphasised that a series of elements related, on
the one hand, to the duration and the positioning of the relevant
sports seasons as well as to the respect of the registration
periods and, on the other hand, to the duration and respect of the
employment contracts concerned, need to be cumulatively met."
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been determined to sign Mascherano
and he is now set to finalise a move for the defensive midfielder
before the close of the transfer window.