Jonathan Mensah facing four month ban over Evian transfer http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32772430
Interesting. I had completely forgotten about this player. Some more info on https://www.modernghana.com/sports/617958/2/breaking-news-ghana-defender-jonathan-mensah-hande.html I'd say its his agent's fault. I don't expect the player to understand these things, but when he signed for Udinese in summer 2010 it was almost certainly the "standard" 4 or 5 years contract that Udinese gives to any promising young player bought. So he went immediately on loan to Granada and apparently, at the end of the loan his agent, for ignorance or more probably for money thirst told him he was a free agent instead of telling him he had to go back to Udine. I'm glad Udinese didn't let it go and acted to defend its interests.
I know it's not the main part of the sanction but the ban seems pretty pathetic. 4 months of which 2 are during the close season and his club are already relegated so hardly need him for the remainder of this season either.
Of course, but I think the player was simply naive while his agent and the new team tried to be "smart". The important thing is not the ban but (from my link above): "Evian, who were relegated to the second tier of French football on Saturday, were also slapped with a one million Euro fine to signing the player while he was under contract with Udinese. The amount will be paid to Udinese as compensation. The French club were also handed a two-year suspended sentence in the transfer market." So finally Udinese receives an adequate transfer fee and Evian is punished with transfer embargo. Good! Other clubs now will maybe think twice before trying being smart this way.
In fairness Sherlock I did say the ban wasn't the main part of the sanction. I just don't see the point in useless punishments is all. The transfer embargo is suspended so will only be put in place if they are found guilty of something else.
