Wenger: Loophole may cost clubs

Arsene Wenger fears that football could be thrown into chaos by a little-known ruling that could have disastrous consequences for the game.

Fabregas could leave under ruling Fabregas could leave under ruling

The Arsenal manager, a lone voice among Premier League bosses, reckons the Webster Rule – which allows players to walk away for free, even when under contract – could have even bigger implications for clubs than the Bosman effect.

Wenger revealed he lost Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb because of the rule and he is worried club captain Cesc Fabregas and other young guns like Theo Walcott may also be tempted to leave.

Andy Webster made transfer history when he was the first player to trigger a loophole in FIFA-adopted EU employment laws.

It let him cancel his contract with Scottish club Hearts in the third year of a four-year deal, provided he joined a club in a foreign country – and as long as he gave his club enough notice.

Wenger warned: “There is a wind of change blowing through football. It could affect many clubs. We must all be wary.”

Under Bosman regulations, players can leave a club when their contract expires. Webster was given the green light to move on after staying at one club for three years.

“We are living in fear at the moment,” said Wenger. “Who knows what the future might hold?

“Cesc could leave under the ruling. But I know he loves it here. It is important also we get him to sign the new deal offered.”

Webster, a virtually unknown player like Jean-Marc Bosman, secured his own transfer from Hearts, claiming after three years at one club he had a right to leave for nothing. He took his case to the European Court of Human Rights and won.

As Wenger looked ahead to a  trip to Porto on Wednesday in the Champions League, he said: “Many in football forget the Webster Rule exists.

“After three years a player can either sign a deal or go. Top clubs might handle this but, at a lower level, it could ruin them.”

It is why Wenger has told his board to ensure no player goes into a third year of a deal without being offered a new contract. That way, the club can then get money back.

By offering Fabregas a new deal – which he has yet to sign – it means, if he went to Barcelona, Arsenal would get at least £16million.

Wenger added: “Agents at the moment have been reluctant to go into the Webster ruling.

“But it will happen in the same way as the Bosman ruling. Football is in fear at the moment.”

Arsenal’s chances of ever signing another young talent like Fabregas look doomed after European clubs leader Karl-Heinz Rummenigge slammed the Gunners for poaching foreign youngsters and backed plans to change the rules ahead of a crucial meeting this month.

Comments Unavailable

Sorry, we are unable to accept comments about this article at the moment. However, you will find some great articles which you can comment on right now in our Comment section.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?