After a transfer ban for 1. FC Köln: Paqarada change in the balance

FCSP whereabouts possible

As of now, 1. FC Köln are not allowed to sign any players in the summer and the upcoming winter transfer window due to a sanction imposed by FIFA. Although the Rhinelanders already announced on Wednesday evening that they would appeal the verdict to the International Sports Court “Cas”, the future of the only commitment made to date, Leart Paqarada, remains open for the time being – FC had the defender on a free transfer in January for the coming season from FC St. Pauli committed.

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Should the sanction against the Domstadters remain in place, the transfer of the 28-year-old, which was believed to be safe, would subsequently burst, since he may not be registered as a club player. The defender, who signed a contract until June 30, 2026, had announced in this context: “I’m incredibly proud to be able to wear the FC jersey from next season. An entire city that lives and loves this club with full emotion. To return to the city where I grew up and which has always meant home to me, is an indescribable feeling for me.” What happens to Paqarada now and whether he could continue playing at FC St. Pauli if Cologne appealed unsuccessfully stays open. When asked by the “Hamburger Morgenpost“First of all, do not comment on the personnel.

Paqarada moved from Sandhausen to Millerntor in 2020 and is on the left wing at FCSP. In the current season he has contributed eight goals in 23 games and has played a major role in the recent sporting high of the team, which was still undefeated in 2023. Chima Okoroji (also from SVS) was last traded as a possible replacement for the native of Aachen.

Transfer ban for 1. FC Köln: allegation of incitement to breach of contract

The background to the severe penalty against Cologne is the circumstances surrounding the signing of U19 striker Jaka Cuber Potocnik. The Cologne team had signed the 17-year-old last year and thus caused trouble. Although it was not a transfer for the first team, the ban still affects all men’s teams at the club. The FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber found the Cologne team guilty of unjustified breach of contract and incitement to breach of contract. The player also has to pay EUR 51,750 to Potocnik’s former Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana, with FC being jointly liable. Young hope Potocnik will also be banned for four months with immediate effect.

The player had prematurely terminated his U17 contract in Ljubljana on January 30, 2022, so FC did not have to pay a fee. Just one day later he is said to have signed in the Rhineland. The Slovenians claimed that Cologne instigated the then 16-year-old Potocnik to switch and defended themselves at FIFA. Originally, the club even wanted a transfer fee of 2.5 million euros and around 70,000 euros in damages.

Cologne argue that Potocnik terminated his contract due to numerous breaches of contract by Olimpija Ljubljana. Regarding the allegation of incitement, the FC statement states that the club “defended itself in a comprehensive statement of defense and submitted evidence” that “refutes incitement to breach the contract”. The FIFA committee followed the arguments of the Slovenians on February 1st. The world association saw it as proven that Potocnik had terminated his employment contract with Olimpija Ljubljana without legal grounds. In addition, according to FIFA, FC had not been able to refute the presumption that, as a new club, they had instigated the player to breach the contract.

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