Hannover denied Popescu deal
Friday, January 31, 2003
Article summary
Gheorghe Popescu's transfer to Hannover 96 has broken down as it contravenes FIFA's transfer regulations.
Article body
The German Football League (DFL) has announced that Gheorghe Popescu's transfer to Hannover 96 has been cancelled.
FIFA ruling
The 35-year-old Romanian international signed for the 1. Bundesliga club two days ago after two months in limbo following his departure from FC Dinamo Bucuresti. However, after consultation with FIFA, the DFB announced that Popescu could not join Hannover because it would contravene a rule preventing players from making two transfer moves in a 12-month period.
Second free transfer
Popescu ended last season at Italian side US Lecce, whom he left to join Dinamo on a free transfer in August. It is the second major deal involving Romanian players to break down this week, following Ovidiu Petre's aborted move to AFC Ajax.
Legal argument
Hannover have accepted the decision but announced that club lawyers would be looking into the contractual situation to see if they can find any flaws in the DFB's arguments. Having heard back from their legal advisors, the club will then decide whether to take the Popescu case to appeal.
'I'm optimistic'
Popescu himself, meanwhile, who announced on Wednesday that Hannover would be his last club, has stayed in Germany and is hopeful that the matter can be resolved. "There are some problems, but I'm optimistic, because I'm a free player," he said. "I will not play tomorrow, but I know that the lawyers will do all they can. I think everything will be OK."
'He is not young anymore'
Popescu's agent, Ioan Becali, was a little less laid-back about Popescu's prospects. "It's not fair," he said. "We didn't break any rules. More than that, there have been a lot of players who have been transferred twice in a season, while Popescu didn't do that. He is free player and I would hate to think that this might be the end of his career. All I hope is that FIFA will understand that we acted legally and that he is not young any more."
International uncertainty
The uncertainty over his future will not help Popescu's international prospects. Romanian national team coach Anghel Iordanescu has already made it clear that he will not select players who are without a club for the national side.
