No appeal likely in Odjidja-Ofoe case

Michael Kenrick , 10 September, 20comments | Jump to most recent

Rounding out "Belgian Weekend" here on ToffeeWeb, this piece of news tagged on to the end of the Press Association story about Fellaini not being punished suggests Everton are unlikey to pursue the Vadis Ojidja-Ofoe botched loan deal any further, as the next stop would be the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Everton saw a loan deal for young Belgian Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe fall through after Fifa refused to ratify the transfer on Friday and it seems unlikely they will seek to overturn that decision.

While the Toffees have said they will assess all available options before considering an appeal, their only probable avenue of recourse is through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

That could take months rather than weeks and, as the agreement with Club Brugge was only for a loan, a lengthy appeal process does not seem likely as the transfer window reopens in January. Everton are understood to be unhappy Fifa took a week to come to their conclusion, but the problem appears to have been encountered in Belgium.

The Toffees had their necessary paperwork registered in time for the 11pm deadline only for them to discover Brugge had not quite managed to do the same at their end.

While the Premier League and Football Association supported Everton's claims, as the deal required international clearance it had to be sanctioned by Fifa and they would not rubber stamp it.

Quotes or other material sourced from Press Association, via RTE Sport

Reader Comments (20)

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Kev Johnson
1 Posted 10/09/2012 at 21:58:12

I've never liked the Belgians...

Si Cooper
2 Posted 10/09/2012 at 22:34:35

So how will this one play out then? Any chance that FC Brugge will accept culpability and give us the same deal in January?

More likely they will just be interested in seeing if anyone else comes in with a bit more cash.

Kev Johnson
3 Posted 10/09/2012 at 22:59:57

They're nothing but trouble, these Belgians. First Odjidja-Ofoe, now Fellaini. I hear Mirallas is very demanding, too. He keeps asking for waffles then turning his nose up when presented with savour potato-based foodstuffs instead of the sweet confections of his homeland. Some people, eh?

Mike Keating
4 Posted 10/09/2012 at 23:03:08

Great beer, fab chocolate... but BORING brown clothes and apart from Eddie Merckx, Tin Tin and Magritte, who have you ever heard of?

I think Fellaini is over-rated and can go the Rodwell route. Let's make some money from the gobshites and move on. I would still hope to land Ofoe in the New Year... COYB

Chris Williamson
5 Posted 10/09/2012 at 23:09:49

Oh the irony. A club in the country that revels in giving us endless European rules, from defining chocolate, to taxing UK marine fuel... trips over red tape!

To quote from Clockwise "I can cope with the dispair ... It's the hope – that's what's killing me"

Si Cooper
6 Posted 10/09/2012 at 23:17:13

As Hercules Poirot might have observed, Mike, I don't think you are using your 'little grey cells' with that "Fellaini is overrated" comment.

Kev Johnson
7 Posted 10/09/2012 at 23:13:42

What, sell one Belgian and buy another? No way. Never trust a Belgian, that's what I say. Once I finish this crate of Stella I'm not buying any more...

We need more Dutchmen in the team. Maybe the odd German.

Jamie Sweet
8 Posted 11/09/2012 at 00:25:20

I'd prefer a normal German to an odd one Kev, but I guess our budget can only stretch so far. Our record with Dutchmen is far from exemplary either!

You're right though, these Belgians are proving to be a bit high maintenance, especially considering the Mirallas waffle story, which I'm surprised hasn't made the back page of the Daily Mail yet.

Mike Keating
9 Posted 11/09/2012 at 00:25:22

Thanks Si, I forgot about the Belgian Benitez lookalike but I have to say my "little grey cells" are well in place. I described Fellaini as a "giraffe with a hangover" when he first played for us and I still believe he is inconsistent and overrated. If we can get over £20 m for him, I would not be upset.
COYB

Danny Kewley
10 Posted 11/09/2012 at 09:44:00

Adolphe Sax, the saxophone inventor, Audrey Hepburn (yes please) and the artist Rubens all from Belgium.

What the fuck happened to Club Brugge ? Didn't they want to be famous as well? — ungrateful sods!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fuck the chocolates and up the Toffees!

Peter Barry
11 Posted 11/09/2012 at 10:53:34

Quelle surprise!!!!!

Brent Stephens
12 Posted 11/09/2012 at 11:11:27

So, all those who were talking about "here we go again, typical Everton" etc etc., any possibility you might now say "I guessed wrong"? This seems to show that it wasn't the fault of DM, BK, the Board, the medical staff, or whoever else gets blamed for everything.

Martin Mason
13 Posted 11/09/2012 at 11:20:54

Come on Brent, there'd be pink pigs flying past before you see an acknowledgement.

Brent Stephens
14 Posted 11/09/2012 at 11:29:22

Agree, Martin, I just live in hope we see one of those flying pink pigs some time! Doesn't it go really quiet from some quarters once the facts emerge. I like a debate even if based only on opinions but the hatred some feel to others just seems to drive out any rational debate.

Terry Smith
15 Posted 11/09/2012 at 11:46:14

Basically the cat is out the bag. Fat Sam and others would usually go for whoever we wanted and offer them much more money.

Matt Traynor
16 Posted 11/09/2012 at 14:16:05

Seems like the club are stuffed on this. As an aside, I've often felt Everton take it from the authorities without really kicking up a fuss.

A few years back, Derby County signed this central or south American striker called Esteban Fuertes without needing a work permit. Turned out he was on a bent Spanish passport, and he was effectively deported. I think Derby had paid £3m for him. He only scored 1 goal for Derby, yup, in a 1-0 win against us. Any other club would've screamed for the points, or at least a replayed fixture. Not a peep from us.

Mike Allison
17 Posted 11/09/2012 at 16:19:37

Can't we just sign the deal now to go through on 1st January? It's quite a common thing to do in European football.

Si Cooper
18 Posted 11/09/2012 at 16:29:05

The player obviously wants to move but I sense FC Brugge may have dragged their heels because the offers in the summer weren't as good as they had hoped. I also wonder if there is a growing sense of resentment in Belgium that their best players are being siphoned off by wealthier foreign clubs.

If he plays from now until Christmas, and plays well, then they may hope for a bit more competition for his signature in January. It all hangs on whether the problems at their end weren't simply an indication of their reluctance to do the deal, and whether they are prepared to accept culpability with the attitude that they should make up for it.

Tony J Williams
19 Posted 11/09/2012 at 17:23:12

Si, could be but they had the thumbs up from their FA and were willing to go through with it...subject to Septic Bladder giving the go ahead.

Kristian Boyce
20 Posted 12/09/2012 at 18:32:25

Just saw this news item which makes this Vadis decision a little perplexing:

http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/athletic-bilbao-have-27-days-to-sign-benat/

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