BRUSSELS: A Belgian court has rejected a bid to force world federation FIFA to suspend the implementation of its ban on third party ownership of footballers writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The issue is a thorny one within the world game because many South American clubs, in particular, have used TPO to raise cash by selling part-ownership of their players to companies  created to take advantage of the transfer market.

Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish league, is a declared opponent of the TPO ban introduced in May by FIFA and strongly supported by European federation UEFA.

In the Belgian case the specialist company Doyen Sports and local second division club Seraing has sought an injunction demanding that the prohibition be suspended pending a full hearing. They brought their case against FIFA, UEFA and the Belgian football federation.

FIFA’s opposition to the plea was supported by the players’ union FIFPro.

A statement quoting the court ruling said: “The tribunal held that the applicants had failed to prove their allegations that upon initial examination, the ban contravened EU law or was disproportionate to the attainment of the legitimate objectives sought by the introduction of this new regulation, such as the protection of players and the integrity of the game.”

Recently UEFA president Michel Platini reiterated his personal and his organisation’s opposition to TPO.

Platini said: “TPO turns money of the clubs into the money of individuals, so the clubs stay poor and the individuals become rich.

“The transfer system is not being used to improve teams, but to take money out of football. That’s why TPO is a scandal .”

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