La Gazetta Parlo Sciocchezza?!

Translation: The Gazette talk nonsense over Wes? Or are they keeping the Blackpool public informed?

Football governing body, FIFA have today ruled that Wes Hoolahan is a Livingston player after the long running dispute, and he won`t be joining The Seasiders for the £75000 the two clubs had agreed almost a year ago, according to The Gazette.

Save to say, Blackpool have appealed against the decision.

Livingston have successfully argued that ‘Pool had been late on several loan payments and that this was breach of contract, meaning there weren`t obliged to allow him to move to Bloomfield Road for – what they must seen now – a pittance.

Reports are stating that Livi are holding out for £400K, and with many other clubs, including Wolves after the exciting Irishman, it looks like Simon Grayson will miss out on his stand out star from last season.

Livingston chief exec Vivien Kyles retorted that “The last thing we want to do is take away from the Blackpool fans a good player like Wes – he has had a very good season for Blackpool, and if they made us an offer today, then we could sort it out.”

All the above is according to The Gazette.

Now, the real facts, according to Blackpool:

Blackpool FC – through club secretary Matt Williams – have stated that: “We are aware of the reports that this matter has already decided in Livingston’s favour before FIFA. FIFA has today confirmed to us that this is not the case as the dispute has yet to be heard by the Players’ Status Committee of FIFA.
The English FA who fully supports our claim did not release the international transfer certificate (ITC) back to the Scottish FA on the completion of the loan agreement of June 17, as they back our claim that the player should be transferred as per the original loan agreement. As a result, the Scottish FA on the instruction of Livingston contacted FIFA to ask for the ITC to be returned to them. FIFA in turn asked the English FA to return the ITC by Friday 6th July or submit a case as to why they had not returned the Certificate. The FA then contacted us and asked us to submit our case against Livingston. A substantial dossier was submitted to FIFA on Friday and we now await FIFA’s decision regarding the release of the ITC.’


So, after all that, we`re none the wiser! A decision is expected in the coming week.