Socceroo Mark Bresciano has reportedly been banned by FIFA for four months and fined $1.8 million for an illegal club transfer.
FIFA ruled the veteran Australian’s transfer from a Qatar club to the United Arab Emirates was illegal, News Corporation reports say.
Bresciano is currently in a Socceroos training camp ahead of Tuesday night’s friendly against Costa Rica.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) officials were made aware of FIFA’s ruling on Saturday and were studying the judgement, the report said.
“We will do all we can to assist Marco Bresciano and his representatives in having the judgement swiftly overturned and set aside,” an FFA spokesperson told News Corp.
“The advice from FIFA is that the suspension doesn’t apply to Tuesday night’s match against Costa Rica.
“Marco is available for selection and will continue his preparations with the squad.”
FFA officials were not immediately available for further comment.
Bresciano joined UAE club Al Gharafa last year, transferring from Al Nasr in Qatar.
Al Nasr appealed the transfer to FIFA, News Corp said.
The report said Bresciano’s new club, Al Gharafa, have been banned by FIFA from making any transfers for a year.
Al Gharafa have appealed the FIFA verdict to the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS), with a hearing date as yet unknown.
Bresciano, a 33-year-old midfielder, is a certain inclusion in Australia’s squad for the World Cup in Brazil starting next June.
But it was not immediately clear when any ban would start, casting doubt on his participation in soccer’s showpiece.
Al Ghara’s general secretary, Jassim Al Manosuri, confirmed the club had appealed to CAS.
“This is not a unique case, there are many precedents, we as a club are not a part of this case,” Al Manosuri said in a statement published by News Corp.
“As the player ended his contract with his former club before joining us, our next step will be filing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
Morkel
Guest
I like the conspiracy theory angle but I think it has more to do with Al-Nasr (UAE club) getting annoyed that they did not receive the correct compensation when Bresciano bought out his contract and moved to his new Qatari club (Al-Gharafa). Al-Nasr are saying that Bresciano deliberately bought out his contract to avoid his new club having to pay a higher buyout clause to purchase Bresh. At the end of the day, Bresciano and Al-Gharafa did something very dodgy so they could be better off financially and they got caught doing it .
Morkel
Guest
#1 Al-Gharafa is football club in Qatar, not the UAE. #2 Al-Nasr is a football club in UAE, not Qatar. #3 Bresciano moved from Al-Nasr to Al-Gharafa (UAE to Qatar), not the other way around.
Kasey
Guest
Good for us on 2 fronts? 1. Forces us to look at a younger replacement player for the NT? 2. Might slow the trickle of players leaving Oz for the oil leagues. Sales pitch: "Come or stay in the HAL at least we're reputable." Crap for one of my favourite Socceroos:( does NOT deserve this from FIFA and Qatar:(
Cameron
Roar Guru
I didn't want to suggest that, seeing how outlandish it sounds, but I was thinking the exact same thing! I call BS on this whole situation. If I'm wrong, well nothing changes.
Muzz
Guest
Would this have anything to do with us wanting to sue FIFA
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Only in Qatar... Obviously an April's fool joke.. (Middle Eastern Calendar)
JAJI
Guest
Loved Mark B his whole career and followed him the whole time he was in Italy Think about his contributions to the major Socceroos moments in the last decade: That goal against Uruguay, the cross for Kennedy's goal against Uzbekistan The cross for Kennedy's goal against Iraq Ditto Harry's goal against Croatia and Holman in South Africa He has not wanted to come back to the A League and he should have He has decided to chase bucks in petroleum lands and look what has happened Clubs no one have heard of up to dodgy dealings
Griffo
Roar Guru
WTF? How, between a professional club, a player's agent, and the player themselves, does this happen? Wonder at Bresciano's thoughts on this...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
oops
The Bear
Guest
Enforced international retirement? Hope he's taking it well. Deserves to be in the mix for Brazil. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Ballymore
Guest
Forgiving my ignorance of all legal matters, how can FIFA enforce this fine if Mr. Bresciano simply declines to pay? Ban him sure, but if retirement beckons than how will that help their cause?