Crystal Palace striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta, has challenged the validity of the final year of his contract and reportedly taken the dispute to world football governing body FIFA.
Reports reveal that the France international has formally contested the remaining 10 months of his deal at Selhurst Park, which is currently due to expire in June 2027.
Mateta joined Palace from Mainz in 2021 on an initial 18-month loan before making the move permanent in January 2022.
He subsequently signed a four-and-a-half-year contract that included an option for a further 12 months.
Palace activated the extension in 2024, but Mateta, 29, argues that the additional year should not be legally binding.
His case was previously heard by an independent tribunal under Premier League rules. Although there has been no official announcement on the outcome, it is understood that the tribunal found Mateta’s contract remained valid.
The striker then took the dispute to FIFA, which ruled earlier this week that the matter did not fall within its jurisdiction and therefore could not overturn the existing contract.
Had Mateta succeeded in his challenge, he could potentially have become a free agent before the current agreement expires.
The striker has become an important figure at Palace since his arrival, scoring 67 goals for the club and playing a key role in their FA Cup and Conference League triumphs under former manager, Oliver Glasner.
Mateta pushed to leave Palace in January and came close to joining AC Milan, but the move collapsed after an issue with his knee was identified during his medical.
He subsequently missed about two months of action before returning to the Palace squad.
The contract dispute adds to a difficult start to the season for new Palace manager Pierre Sage, whose side suffered a 2-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday.
Forward Ismaila Sarr was absent from the matchday squad after reporting a groin problem.
Sources say the Senegal international has not trained for the past two days amid reported interest from Galatasaray.
Palace are reluctant to sell Sarr, who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season as the club won the Community Shield and Conference League.
Meanwhile, defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off during the defeat at Goodison Park with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Riad has endured a difficult time with knee problems since joining Palace in 2024 and previously missed more than 400 days because of back-to-back injuries.
The latest developments leave Palace dealing with Mateta’s contract dispute, interest in Sarr and Riad’s injury as Sage begins his tenure at the club.
(BBC)
