Photo: Partick Thistle FC
Al Ahly’s legal advisor Helmy Abdel Razek has revealed how the club’s management will proceed after former striker Souleymane Coulibaly who has joined Partick Thistle.
Souleymane Coulibaly has joined Scottish side Partick Thistle FC on a one-year deal, one year after fleeing Egypt.
In an interview with Al Ahly TV, Abdel Razek said that the club will first learn about the player’s position on the matter, and confirm his move to the Scottish side.
Al Ahly board had filed a lawsuit against the Ivory Coast international and the FIFA Dispute Settlement Court ruled that he has to pay a fine of $1.4 million and if he fails to do so he is not allowed to join or sign for any other club.
And according to Abdel Razek, the penalty was not challenged, “Fifa changed its rules on the 1st of June 2018, stating that if any element of the game, whether a player, coach, club or national team disrespected the federation’s decisions they will be sanctioned.
Photo: Al Ahly SC
“All parties are required to implement the penalty within a month of issuance, meaning that the penalty may reach the Scottish FA or any other FA that decides to register the player,” he added.
Regarding the possibility of issuing a temporary card for Coulibaly, he said, “This usually happens when the dispute is prolonged and the FIFA committees are unable to make a decision within a month or two. A temporary card is issued for a year to preserve the player’s future.
“But in our case, the final penalty has been issued and if the international federation makes a temporary card for him, we will file an urgent complaint to the FIFA players’ affairs committee,” he concluded.
The 23-year-old striker was without a club since fleeing Egypt in 2017. His new club, Partick Thistle are currently seventh in the 10-team Scottish Championship table with three points.
