Schalke look into appeal over Drogba
Reuters - Thursday 21 February 2013, 11:49
Schalke 04 have asked UEFA to check whether Galatasaray striker Didier
Drogba was eligible to participate in Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League
draw in Istanbul, the German club said.
"After
taking legal advice we decided to take this step," said Schalke sports
director Horst Heldt, adding they had the right to do so within 24 hours
from the end of Wednesday's first-leg encounter.
"It is our duty to demand a check of eligibility for Drogba and to reserve our rights in this matter," he said.
Ivorian
striker Drogba joined the Turkish club in late January for 18 months
from Shanghai Shenhua. The Chinese club had initially tried to block the
transfer saying he had violated the terms of his contract.
Drogba
had moved to Shanghai Shenhua last June after winning the Champions
League 2012 with Chelsea but cut short his stay in China amid reports of
unpaid wages.
His deal with
Galatasaray includes transfer fees totalling six million euros and payments of 15,000 euros per match, plus signing fees of four
million euros.
"There is the
suspicion that he received his eligibility after the end of the deadline
to register the player for the UEFA Champions League," said Schalke
finance boss Peter Peters.
Schalke said they had informed the Turkish club of their actions.
"It
is now up to UEFA to decide and Schalke will respect this process,"
said Peters.