Essam El-Hadary Tests Out the Webster Ruling

Remember how Chris told us that the Andy Webster ruling was going to turn world football upside down? Well, he might have been right. The historic ruling means players can buy out the remaining years of their own contract, provided they’ve already completed three years (if they’re under 28) or two years (if they’re over 28) of said contract. Great news for players (and agents) but bad news for clubs, but so far no one has tested the ruling beyond Webster himself. Until now.

Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations winning keeper Essam El-Hadary wants a move from Al-Alhy to Swiss side FC Sion. Al-Ahly don’t want to let him go (which is understandable, he’s probably the best keeper in Africa) but El-Hadary is in Switzerland right now training with his (maybe) new club, who have offered Al-Ahly US$400,000 for the 35 year old keeper. That doesn’t seem a lot for a legend, but it’s the equivalent of the remaining two years of El-Hadary’s Al-Ahly contract.

Egyptian fans are also super-angry, especially as El-Hadary just furthered his legend by winning the Africa Cup of Nations. Al-Ahly see it as El-Hadary being under contract until 2010, and are resisting any attempts for him to leave before that. The club has apparently written to FIFA and to the Swiss Football Federation to protest.

“We sent a very clear letter to FIFA and the Swiss federation, refusing to send the international transfer certificate for the player,” said Al-Ahly board member Khaled Mortagy. “We urged the Swiss federation to send the player back as soon as possible. Al Ahly will reserve all its rights to take all appropriate legal action against the player, the club and any other party that deprives Al Ahly from its rights.”

The interesting thing here is that the Webster ruling doesn’t come from FIFA, but from the all-powerful Court of Arbitration for Sport. FIFA actually opposed the ruling, arguing in a statement that the Webster ruling “will have far-reaching and damaging effects on the game as a whole.” So it’s perfectly possible that FIFA will side with Al-Ahly and we’ll have one big old argument on our hands, the result of which will shape the future of football.

[originally published on World Cup Blog]

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: World Football

Tags: Africa Cup of Nations, Al Ahly, assam al-hadary, Egypt, el-ehly, essam el-hadary, FC Sion, Switzerland, World Football, World Soccer

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