Thibaut Courtois cleared to play against Chelsea

The Independent

Chelsea cannot enforce the clause in Thibaut Courtois’s loan contract that states Atletico Madrid will have to pay a fee should the goalkeeper play in their Champions League semifinal meeting.

The issue is likely to be a major talking point after the sides were today drawn against each other in the semi-finals. Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said yesterday that his club would not play the goalkeeper if the teams meet because they could not afford the fee, believed to be £4.5m for the two legs. Speaking after Wednesday’s win over Barcelona, Cerezo said: “The problem is whether he can play or not if we come up against Chelsea. It could be that he cannot, the contract is the contract. If he is to play we will have to pay a large sum of money.” But UEFA said that the clause is “null, void and unenforceable”.

The governing body released a statement: “In response to media reports referring to the situation of Club Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, UEFA would like to reiterate its position. The integrity of sporting competition is a fundamental principle.” “Both the Uefa Champions League and the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match.

“It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as Uefa is concerned. “Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the Uefa Champions League and the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly.”