The transfer package that took Nigerian-born attacker, Chuba Akpom from Arsenal of England to PAOK Saloniki of Greece has been cited among a litany of faulty deals that have put The Gunners in trouble with world soccer governing body, FIFA.
Akpom’s move to PAOK is among several in which Arsenal are accused of using variable sell-on clauses and, though officials at Emirates Stadium insist they have not broken regulations, the London-based club have been fined £34,000 by FIFA and warned about their conduct regarding player transfers in relation to two deals in particular.
Megasportsarena.com learnt that one of those two deals was for Akpom, who was sold by Arsenal to PAOK under conditions that ensured that The Gunners will enjoy healthy percentages when and if the barrel-chested lad is sold to other club.
While Akpom, who last year expressed a strong desire to play for the Super Eagles, made the move to Greece in search of regular game time, Arsenal appeared tom sanction the deal after they were offered 40% of the fee for a future transfer of the lad to any British team and 30% for his sale to an outfit from elsewhere in Europe.
Akpom, who has represented England at youth level, was on the books of Arsenal for 16 years before switching to PAOK in 2018, but an investigation by FIFA has revealed legal documents that raised concern from the global governing body about the terms of his departure.
Also cited along with Akpom’s move to PAOK is the deal that took Joel Campbell to Frosinone of Italy, both of which FIFA ruled have variable sell-on clauses, meaning if either player returned to any club in Britain in future, Arsenal would receive a larger commission in the deal.
Details of the exposé revealed that Arsenal placed sell-on clauses in the contracts to ensure they would receive a substantial sell-on fee from either player, while Frosinone were also handed an incentive not to sell Campbell to any British club – as 30% would have to be paid to Arsenal if the Italian side demure, while only 25% would be The Gunners’ cut if he is sold elsewhere.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee found Arsenal to be in violation of the global body’s stipulated transfer rules, for entering into contracts that enable The Gunners to influence other clubs in future deals for players that were sold be the Emirates Stadium outfit and for failing to declare data in the Transfer Matching System.
FIFA disciplinary committee member, Thomas Hollerer wrote in Thursday’s verdict document: “The committee considers that, by the mere existence of these clauses, Frosinone and PAOK FC are influenced by Arsenal in employment and transfer-related matters.
“The committee considers that the relevant clauses undoubtedly grant Arsenal the ability to influence in employment undoubtedly grant Arsenal the ability to influence in employment and transfer-related matters the independence, policies and the performance of PAOK FC and Frosinone’s teams.”
