The simmering and sometimes acrimonious dispute between Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Jose Torrealba took a positive and dramatic turn on Saturday when Fifa declared the Venezuelan international striker a Sundowns player.
Torrealba, who had been a key influence in Sundowns winning the PSL championship in the past two seasons, had claimed through his agent that a document in which Sundowns accepted an option of two further years on the diminutive Venezuelan’s services contained a forged signature.
Both Sundowns and Torrealba’s representatives, in turn, lodged appeals with Fifa to sort out what had become in the words of one official ”an ugly mess” — with Torrealba failing to report back for duty with Sundowns last month after representing his country in the South American Nations Cup tournament.
”From the documents in our possession,” stated Marco Villiger, the Fifa director of legal affairs, ”it appears as if Jose Torrealba is under contract with Sundowns until June 30 2009.”
He continued: ”Furthermore, the registration of Torrealba with any other club at this stage is not allowed and the only club which the player is eligible to represent is Sundowns.”
”We are relieved with this ruling after all the unsubstantiated accusations that were levelled at Sundowns,” said the club’s executive director, Afzal Khan, ”and we expect Torrealba to report for duty immediately and honour his commitments.”
Khan, however, added that if Torrealba no longer wished to play for Sundowns, the PSL champions would deal with the matter accordingly — ”but on the basis he is Sundowns property in accordance with the contract now deemed as legal and in order by Fifa”. — Sapa