Al Wasl and Hugo Viana attempt to overturn UAE Football Federation late transfer ruling

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  • Left in limbo: Al Wasl's Hugo Viana (C)

    Frustrated Portugal midfielder Hugo Viana is set to submit documents to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday as he attempts to overturn the UAE Football Federation late transfer registration ruling preventing him playing for Al Wasl. 

    Viana, 31, has become the main victim of the saga which saw moves for himself and four Emirati players declared ineligible after the arbitrary extension of the summer deadline by two hours until 02:00 on Friday, October 3 was rescinded. 

    But while a ruling last week – which contradicted a UAE FA board decision a fortnight ago – voided the switches for the locals meaning they can play for their original clubs in the interim period before the window opens again in January, Viana has been left in limbo because of his status as a foreigner. 

    Currently, Viana can only train with Wasl and cannot return to former side Al Ahli. This is an area of dispute between the 29-times capped midfielder and the UAE FA, with the latter party claimed to be refusing to recognise evidence that documents were submitted beforemidnight on deadline day saying he had been released by the Red Knights and was a free agent. 

    In a heated press conference at the end of last month, Wasl board member and legal advisor Mohammad Al Amri discussed the possibility of raising the issue with CAS and demanded compensation from the UAE FA. 

    This situation has now developed to the point where a trusted lawyer has been mandated by Viana's agent Jorge Mendes to send the papers to the Zurich-based authority, which is the highest legal body in sport. 

    "The UAE Federation have made a big mistake," a source close to the player claimed. "Hugo signed the papers freeing him from Al Ahli at11:30pm, then did the same with Al Wasl two minutes later. 

    "That was all within the correct timeframe before midnight, with them also being faxed to the UAE FA in time. The papers are currently being translated from Arabic so that they can be submitted and CAS can make a decision, hopefully, within two weeks." 

    The move follows two meetings last week between Viana, Wasl and the UAE FA which remained in deadlock as the governing body declined to recognise he was not under contract at the time of the illegal deadline extension. This is a problem for the player as his registration was not made official until after midnight. 

    If true, this would have given Viana 21 days after the close of the window to complete the move in compliance with UAE FA rules on registering foreign players as it is claimed the arrangement – now revoked – from the Cheetahs to cancel Brazilian Neto Berola's contract was faxed at approximately 22:45. 

    The other deals involved in the saga are Bani Yas securing Mohammed Nasser and Saad Suroor, Fujairah signing Ahmed Ibrahim and Division One outfit Al Shaab buying Ahmed Jumaa.

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