Fulham forced to pay Valencia for botched Carew deal

Fulham tonight pledged to appeal after FIFA ordered them to pay Valencia almost £500,000 (€710,000) – because they broke transfer laws by making John Carew’s January 2002 move subject to a medical, which he failed.

The Cottagers’ lawyers are already working on their response after FIFA’s ruling.

World football’s governing body say a medical must be undertaken before “concluding the contract – otherwise the prospective new club will be liable to pay the full amount of compensation for training, development and/or salary due.”

Carew failed his medical, Valencia reported Fulham to FIFA and they were today ordered to pay the Spanish side 5% of Carew’s proposed fee.

Fulham originally said the total payment was £7.5m but FIFA’s figures mean the fee actually works out at £9.58m.

Giant Norwegian striker Carew, 6ft 5in, did not pass the medical due to his alleged ’jumper’s knee’ condition.

Fulham are furious they almost ended up paying a fortune for a player with a serious medical problem – and are equally angry over today’s FIFA verdict they must shell out £500,000 “within 30 days“.

A club statement read: “The club are consulting with their legal experts and plans to appeal against this decision.”

The Londoners claim they merely interpreted FIFA’s laws differently to Valencia – and are bemused that, by being fined just 5% of Carew’s fee, they have not been found entirely innocent or guilty.

A FIFA spokesman told The Press Association: “There was a clause in the original contract in which the validity of the agreement was conditionally based on a medical examination.

“This is in clear contravention of article 30 of the regulation for the status and transfer of players.

“It states: ’The validity of a transfer contract cannot be made conditional upon the positive result of a medical examination.’

“As a consequence, the clause (in the Carew transfer) was considered null and void.”

Fulham were told of FIFA’s decision on Monday and officially have until July 16 to pay. They are appealing instead.

The FIFA spokesman added: “In view of the facts of the case, it was decided Valencia will be partially indemnified for contractual breach on the part of Fulham.

“The amount will be 5% of the total mentioned in the transfer agreement.

“Thus the formal decision is that Fulham shall pay €651,350 to Valencia within the timeframe of 30 days.”

Fulham confirmed: “Fulham have been informed by the Football Association of the decision of FIFA.”

The Carew case is the second current Fulham dispute to involve the Players’ Status Committee.

The club are also appealing against the body’s ruling that they pay Lyon the final chunk of Steve Marlet’s controversial transfer two years ago.

Other Cottagers news today centred on loanee Martin Djetou, who revealed Chris Coleman wants to keep him – but Parma are stalling on a deal.

The 28-year-old utility man moved to London last summer on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.

He enjoyed a successful campaign under the axed Jean Tigana and caretaker boss Coleman, making in excess of 35 appearances.

And Coleman, now appointed as Tigana’s permanent successor, has earmarked the Frenchman as his first signing as a manager.

But Djetou says Parma, who bought him from Monaco in 2001, are dragging their heels and he might be forced to go back to Italy for pre-season training next month.

The player, who has been on holiday with his family in Jamaica, today pleaded with Parma to come clean on their plans for his future.

“I’m still in the same situation, which is that I’m contracted to Parma,” he told his personal website.

“Obviously Fulham want to keep me – but if the Italian club do not regulate certain things, this cannot be done.

“In this case, I’ll be present at training in mid-July with Parma and do my all to win a place in the team.

“I really want to know what Parma intend to do.”