[lfc-news] Gonzalez permit knockback for Reds - PA

PA Sport, 5 Aug 2005
GONZALEZ PERMIT KNOCKBACK FOR REDS

Liverpool are considering an appeal after a work permit application for
Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez was rejected.

The European champions were shocked by the decision made after a hearing
this week.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Liverpool were
only planning a season-long loan deal for the 21 year-old, with a view
to a £4.7million deal with his Spanish club Albacete next summer.

Gonzalez, who was actually born in South Africa, is currently recovering
from a cruciate knee injury and would not have expected to be fit until
October.

The permit was refused primarily because Chile are not in the top 70 of
the FIFA rankings, and it is believed Liverpool also fell foul of
regulations that say the player had to be among their highest wage-earners.

Liverpool officials attended a hearing in London on Thursday to argue
their case but were shocked when a panel of judges refused them.

The ruling clearly upset Benitez, who argued that Gonzalez is not only
the best player in Chile but was also one of the most exciting players
in Spain last season.

Benitez told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "He's a player we have scouted for over
six months. I can tell the Liverpool fans who don't know too much about
him that he's a player with lots and lots of ability.

"He is very fast, good in the air, good at crosses and he can score
goals. In fact, he is the best player in Chile. We have had reports on
the player from our own scouts, professional players, former players and
other managers and they all say the same - that he is a very good player
for now and even better for the future.

"We haven't been awarded a work permit though and I was very surprised
to say the least."

Government regulations also require that when signing a young player
from outside the EU, a club must convince officials that there is no
comparable player in their own country first.

Liverpool would have a better chance if Chile were in the world top 70.
They are currently 72nd and their next match is against Brazil.

Benitez added: "We must now wait because one of the problems is that his
national team are not ranked in FIFA's top 70. If they win a couple of
games, maybe they will move up the FIFA rankings and things may change.

"Gonzalez is already a player who will shine in the Premiership but very
soon he could be one of the most exciting players in England.

"Liverpool supporters love to see players who can lift them out of their
seats and Gonzalez is exactly that sort of player. You saw the reaction
when Djibril Cisse came on against Kaunas on Wednesday.

"The fans were jumping up and cheering when Cisse raced down the wing.
With Gonzalez, the fans would be out of their seats the whole time
because he can play like Cisse but on the wing."

Liverpool may well now review the situation, and could wait until the
January transfer window to make a second application, hoping that the
player will then meet more of the UK criteria as well as being fit to play.

Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/