美斯注冊資格受質疑

小妖

Registration doubts add new twist to Messi saga
MADRID, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Argentine teenage prodigy Lionel Messi could again
find himself barred from appearing for Barcelona due to arguments over the
validity of his playing licence.
A lawyer acting for Deportivo Coruna told the Spanish Football Federation
(RFEF) on Tuesday that Messi should not be allowed to play because he was
granted Spanish citizenship after the August 31 deadline for registration of
players.
Lawyer German Rodriguez Conchado argued the 18-year-old should not be
allowed to appear for Barcelona until the new registration period opens on
January 1, 2006.
A spokesman for Primera Liga Deportivo Coruna, who play Barcelona in the
next round of league matches on October 15, attempted to distance the club
from the matter.
"The letter is not the official position of the club," Rafael Carpacho told
Reuters. "The lawyer was merely informing the federation about the problems
over the status of the player."
Later on Tuesday a lawyer acting for Primera Liga Alaves said they would
also be calling for the player's licence to be annulled.
Messi was prevented from playing for Barcelona in the league at the start of
the season because the club had already filled its permitted quota of three
non-European Union players.
Last week he was granted Spanish citizenship and went on to play in Barca's
2-2 draw at home to Real Zaragoza in the league.
If Messi's registration is declared to be unsound then Zaragoza could try
and get the result of the game overturned on the grounds Barcelona fielded
an ineligible player.
The case would in all likelihood drag on for many months because all parties
could appeal to the RFEF, then to the Spanish Committee for Sports
Discipline (CEDD) and even to the civil courts.
Barca president Joan Laporta told sports daily Marca on Monday that he
believed there was an organised campaign to prevent Messi from playing for
the club.
"Some have tried to create confusion over the affair and I've seen evidence
of ill-will from some people who had planned to take action to ensure Messi
will not play," he said.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,14546,-5321048,00.html