Barcelona have demanded FIFA to make a final decision on whether Arda Turan can be registered in Rafinha’s absence after an ambiguous first response.
Barca believe they are within their rights to replace Rafinha with Arda due to the severity of the Brazilian’s injury, but the club’s transfer embargo, which coincided with the 28-year-old’s arrival from Atletico Madrid in the summer, has complicated matters.
Sport quotes an official Barca statement as saying: “FIFA’s response has not resolved the request made by Barcelona because it is limited to their view the RFEF (Spanish Football Federation) is unable to register the player and that the RFEF’s rules could conflict with FIFA’s in these situations.
“Barcelona have reiterated their need for clarity in [FIFA’s] response, whether it be positive or negative, as it was never the will of Barcelona to seek a legal opinion, only a permit or, where appropriate, a refusal, since CAS’ (Court of Arbitration for Sport) decision at the time clearly outlined a ban on the registration of players for two transfer windows, a punishment that has been fulfilled in its entirety by Barcelona.”
