Adelaide United maintains it has no case to answer in Opseth transfer saga
Adelaide United striker Kristian Opseth’s former Turkish club has asked FIFA for compensation after he transferred to the Reds, with the threat of a transfer ban.
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Adelaide United could face an indefinite FIFA transfer ban if it doesn’t pay more than $1.75 million plus interest to Turkish club BB Erzurumspor for Reds striker Kristian Opseth.
Opseth, 30, could also face a lengthy suspension.
Adelaide United chairman Piet van der Pol confirmed BB Erzurumspor had lodged a claim with FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) alleging Opseth’s exit from the club last year was in “breach of contract.”
However, van der Pol believes “there is no risk for us.”
Opseth’s former Turkish club had lodged documents to FIFA’s DRC in October and November last year.
The Turkish club’s lawyers had also proposed to FIFA that if Adelaide did pay, they should still incur two FIFA transfer window bans and Opseth should serve a four-month suspension.
A decision is imminent according to FIFA DRC regulations which states disputes must be settled in four months.
Van der Pol believes the issue had been recently resolved but could not confirm this.
“This specific player (Opseth) signing has been a little complicated from the beginning I don’t know exactly what happened between him and his former club,’’ van der Pol said.
“As I understand there was a dispute over payment (to Opseth) and FIFA has guidelines when you can unilaterally terminate a contract and what you have to do and that process is described.
“What I have seen the player followed the process securely.
“Then the player in the end said ‘wait a minute I have done everything correctly’.
“As far as I know at this moment he was entitled to a release on a free (to Adelaide United).
“We never spoke to the player or the representative (intermediary) until he had written that he had terminated his contract with his Turkish club.
“We did not instigate anything and we informed FIFA about this.
“As far as I know the case is already closed to be honest.
“As far as I know I need to double check it (if a decision had been made).”
BB Erzurumspor wrote to FIFA’s DRC saying Opseth terminated the contract – which was to expire on May 31, 2021 after signing in January 2019 – without “just cause.”
Opseth counter claimed via the Norwegian players union.
The union said the Norwegian had put the club on default notice twice where he was owed three months salary – about $135,000.
Adelaide football director Bruce Djite also revealed on Soccer Stoppage Time – a Sydney-based radio show that Opseth’s agent Daniel Steinfeld was owed fees from the Reds after Opseth had signed a one-year deal.
Djite confirmed he had done brokered the deal with Opseth and his agent last year.
His agent is in the midst of taking legal action.
“My job is to stick to the budget and I have done that,’’ Djite said.
“I stick within the budget I’m not the chairman, I’m operational.”
FIFA and BB Erzurumspor were contacted for comment.