Foxes’ Adrien Silva appeal rejected by FIFA

FIFA have denied the Football Association’s appeal on behalf of Leicester City regarding the registration of midfielder Adrien Silva. City contended that all parties had completed the required paperwork and uploaded it within the allotted time, but their arguments failed to convince football’s governing body, meaning that the former Sporting man will remain ineligible to play until the transfer (and registration) window re-opens in January, 2018.

The club released the following statement regarding the verdict:

"We cannot hide our disappointment or that of the player at the short-term consequences of the decision," the club said in a statement.

"We maintain, and have made strong representations to Fifa's Players' Status Committee, that all parties involved in Adrien's transfer fulfilled their obligations, consistent with Fifa regulations and within the required timeframe.

"The club is reserving its position in relation to whether it will decide to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport."

The decision by FIFA means that Silva remains in limbo. His transfer has been completed and he is in the employ of Leicester City, but he is not registered to play for the club and has been unable to train with any of the players. The situation borders on the ridiculous, as Silva is forced to watch the other players train through a window.

Confusingly, BBC Leicester Sport are reporting that Silva will begin training with the first team immediately. There was nothing in FIFA’s statement to indicate any change in status for the player, so at this time it is unclear where the authorization for this change originated.

An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport would be the penultimate recourse for the Foxes. If the CAS were to find against Leicester, the final option would be to appeal the decision to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, a resort which seems unlikely to occur before the transfer window reopens in January.