FIFA say the case is not theirs to hear
Sixty-two goals in a Crystal Palace shirt, and a striker trying to argue his way out of the final season of his deal. Jean-Philippe Mateta has challenged the extra year the club triggered in 2024. The BBC revealed the case.
It was first heard through an independent process linked to the Premier League. No detailed ruling has been made public.
Mateta then took it to FIFA. World football’s governing body said it did not have the power to rule on whether the agreement could be cancelled. The player stays tied to the Eagles until the summer of 2027.
Try it for $0.99.
What the Frenchman was chasing
The aim was obvious. Win the case, become a free agent sooner, move on without a fee attached.
His original deal ran four and a half years, signed when the permanent transfer went through in January 2022. Palace activated a further year in 2024. That is the extension he is contesting.
Palace are not letting go of their number nine
Mateta arrived in 2021 on loan from Mainz. The move turned permanent a few months later.
Since then the 29-year-old has scored 62 goals for the club and become a fixture in the side. That standing goes a long way towards explaining why Palace are refusing to give an inch on the length of his deal.
Discover the rest of the football news on our mathodds site and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply