Fifa reject Mateta's contract claim! Crystal Palace star suffers major blow in exit bid

Crystal Palace striker Mateta has suffered a significant setback in his attempts to force a move away from Selhurst Park. The 29-year-old forward reportedly took a shock contract dispute to Fifa in an attempt to have his current deal declared void, but the world governing body has rejected his claims.

The Frenchman is currently under contract with the Eagles until June 30, 2027, but he sought legal intervention to argue that the past two months of his deal should be considered invalid. According to reports from the BBC, Mateta's legal team attempted to find a loophole in the extension clause that the club triggered previously.

Before escalating the matter to Fifa, the dispute was heard by an independent tribunal under Premier League rules. Mateta originally signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Eagles in January 2022 when he joined from Bundesliga side Mainz. That initial agreement included a specific option for the club to extend his stay until 2027 - an extension Palace triggered in 2024, though Mateta now argues the clause should be deemed void as of July 1.

The independent tribunal reviewed the specifics of the contract and the activation of the extension, ultimately ruling in favour of Crystal Palace. They deemed the contract to be legally sound and fully binding. It was only after this domestic ruling that Mateta decided to take his case to world football's governing body, which ultimately declined to intervene, stating that the matter fell outside its remit.

This legal battle comes after a year of uncertainty regarding Mateta's future. The forward has been looking to leave Crystal Palace for some time and came remarkably close to an exit during the January transfer window. Had he been successful in getting his contract ripped up early, he would have been one of the most sought-after free agents on the market.

A potential move to Serie A with interest from AC Milan was reportedly called off late in the process due to an injury found during a medical examination, which prevented him from securing a permanent transfer away from the Premier League. Despite the ongoing legal friction and his desire to leave, Mateta remains a key part of the first-team squad.

Under new manager Pierre Sage, Mateta's involvement was limited in the season opener as he was hooked after just an hour of play during today's 2-0 defeat against Everton. His importance to the side is underlined by his statistical contribution since arriving in London. The striker has scored 62 times for Crystal Palace in 203 appearances across all competitions. Last season was particularly productive for the Frenchman, as he netted 12 goals in the league, following a 14-goal haul the previous campaign.