FifPro To Support Ribery Against Bayern - Report

Bayern Munich's insistence that Franck Ribery could stay at the club if they wanted him to until 2011 has provoked the International Footballers' Association (FifPro).

At a meeting of the European Clubs Association (ECA) recently, the Bundesliga club's president, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that a gentleman's agreement would mean that a FIFA rule would be overlooked among the big clubs to stop stars from leaving.

Under article 17 of the FIFA regulations any player who has been with a club for three years could rescind his own contract unilaterally although now that could be prevented by teams.

Ribery is wanted by several major European sides and Bayern can prevent him from leaving this summer, but next year it could be different as he joined the German outfit in 2007 and can leave of his own accord.

With Rummenigge stating that would be blocked and other ECA clubs agreeing that they would not take a player that had done that, FifPro are unhappy that would restrict the freedom of movement for players.

The ECA announcement that the 153 European clubs had mutually agreed to partially exclude article 17, means that the players' union is now objecting to the European Commission and FIFA.

FIFPro lawyer Wil van Megen told the organisation's official website: "If the clubs are free to push aside the FIFA rules which are applicable worldwide, it will henceforth be impossible to maintain the international rule of law within football.

"Mutual agreements within the ECA point towards cartel formation and are unacceptable. In view of the tough stance taken by European Commissioner Kroes with regard to previous cartel agreements, I also expect there to be strong intervention in this case."

Lucas Brown, Goal.com