CONFUSION OVER RULE HITS CLUBS
GILLINGHAM, Scunthorpe United, Crewe and Leyton Orient have all fallen foul of new FIFA regulations that caught them unawares.
On Thursday, League One Gills announced the signing of centre-back Bondz N’Gala until the end of the season.
However, later in the day the Kent club were forced to backtrack and announce that the 27-year-old wouldn’t be able to play for them this season, having already turned out for League Two Barnet and National League Eastleigh this term.
According to the Gills, both they and the EFL were unaware that world football’s governing body had modified their rules and regulations regarding player appearances and contracts for this season.
The new guidelines restrict players to making competitive appearances for a maximum of TWO teams they are contracted to during any one campaign and, crucially, now includes National League sides as professional clubs.
Scuppered
In a statement, the Gills said: “This unhelpful regulation means he will not be able to play for Gillingham. Club chairman Paul Scally and head coach Ady Pennock are both extremely disappointed by this outcome.
“However, the club were not made aware of this regulation, one that has also scuppered signings at other EFL clubs in the past 48 hours.”
Scunthorpe and Crewe were caught up in the confusion over striker Jonny Margetts. The 23year-old Iron forward had been due to play on loan for League Two Crewe – before the former realised there was a problem.
Margetts has already played for National League side Lincoln City, as well as Scunthorpe, this season.
“When we became aware of the issue, we immediately contacted the EFL, FA and Crewe to investigate and then stopped him playing for Crewe tomorro to avoid any further complications,” said the Iron in a statement. “Therefore, Jonathon will now return to Glanford Park.”
The ruling is a blow for Margetts, who has been on the fringe of things at Scunthorpe since joining from Lincoln at the end of August.
Before the Uturn, he told the Crewe website: “I’ve worked hard, kept my head down and just waited to have an opportunity, whether that was going to be there or out on loan.
“I’ve now got the opportunity to show people what I can do.” Perhaps the strangest case is that of Leyton Orient winger Ulrich Nnomo, whose loan move to Paris FC fell through. The 20-year-old Cameroonborn player joined the O’s from Chateuroux in the summer and was looking forward to returning to France until the end of the season. In a statement, the O’s said: “The winger featured in one reserve team game for Chateuroux, which is considered official by the French Football Federation, and, having made seven further appearances for Orient, the rulings state a player cannot feature for more than two clubs in a season.”
On Friday, the EFL clarified with their clubs the three-andtwo rule which allows a player to register with three clubs in a season but only play for two, in accordance with section 5, clause 3 of the FIFA regulation on status and transfer of players.
Players playing for a Premier League or EFL side as a contracted player or on a standard loan as well as players playing for any National League side on a permanent basis will be taken into account by the edict.
But EFL players that go on loan to National League clubs won’t be counted by the EFL for three-and-two. It also excludes goalkeepers signed in accordance with emergency rules.