A route out through FIFA
Richarlison has gone to the lawyers. The Brazil international and his representatives held talks with a legal team today to work out whether his Tottenham contract can be terminated through FIFA, TEAMtalk reported, which would let him leave north London for nothing. Tottenham do not accept that any such route exists.
The argument his camp wants to build is narrow. Roberto De Zerbi left the 29-year-old out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad, and that omission carries a consequence beyond selection: he cannot appear in the competition until January at the earliest. His side will contend that holding a player under contract while denying him any way of playing amounts to preventing him from practising his profession. Spurs disagree, firmly.
Try it for $0.99.
The Lodi file
There is a recent case behind all of this, and it involves another Brazilian. Renan Lodi was frozen out at Al-Hilal in September 2025 when the Saudi Pro League’s foreign-player limits pushed him off the registration list. He said he had spent weeks trying to reach an amicable solution and received nothing back, then terminated the deal unilaterally and flew home to Brazil. Al-Hilal confirmed they had received his letter and threatened legal action of their own.
Twelve months later, that file is on Richarlison’s desk. His representatives are examining whether Lodi’s reasoning transfers to a Premier League squad list.
Three exits that never happened
This situation exists because of a decision Richarlison made in the summer. Everton had terms all but agreed for his return, De Zerbi had sanctioned it and Tottenham wanted the wages gone. He said no. A move to Trabzonspor then collapsed. Vasco da Gama have held talks and remain willing.
The sticking point at Vasco is the shape of the deal rather than the club. Richarlison wants to leave Tottenham as a free agent so that a spell in Brazil does not close off another move in January. His current contract runs only to the end of the season, and Spurs, 18th in the Premier League, are described as deeply frustrated by a player they were ready to release. Both sides now want the same outcome and cannot agree on how to reach it.
Discover the rest of our Football news on MathODDS!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply