Neymar to take PSG transfer case to Fifa for provisional clearance
After LaLiga refused to accept payment of the 222 million release clause the Brazil forward and his advisors will seek the assistance of the world body.
LaLiga on Thursday rejected the payment of a record-breaking release clause that would allow Neymar to leave Barcelona for Paris St Germain, a source from the Spanish Professional League said.
A group of lawyers representing Neymar visited La Liga in Madrid on Thursday to try to settle the transfer and pay the 222 million-euro release fee.
It was not immediately clear whether LaLiga's refusal to accept payment would put the brakes on the transfer.
Neymar to appeal to Fifa
Reports in Spain said that Neymar and his advisers would turn to FIFA, world soccer's governing body, requesting a provisional transfer to PSG.
The Brazilian striker's agent Wagner Ribeiro had said on Wednesday that the French club was ready to foot the bill so that Neymar could be presented at PSG at the weekend.
La Liga president, Javier Tebas, had already warned in an interview that Spain's league would not accept payment by PSG to trigger the release clause, saying it was potentially in breach of UEFA Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
Under the those rules, a club's wage bill must not exceed 70 percent of its revenue.
Uefa not ready to block Neymar transfer
UEFA, European football's governing body, told Reuters on Wednesday that there had been no complaint received so far about PSG in this respect, adding that it would not block any potential deal in advance.
Neymar's arrival at PSG has generated plenty of excitement in the corridors of power in Paris, with French President Emmanuel Macron congratulating the president of Paris St Germain, Nasser al-Khelaifi, on the record transfer.
The French tax authorities are also rubbing their hands together at the prospect of the windfall.
"The minister of public accounts is delighted by the extra tax income Neymar will pay in France if he joins a French club," Gerald Darmanin told France Inter radio station. "It's better that this footballer pays his tax here instead of elsewhere."
