Rashid to bid goodbye to soccer if transfer to Swiss club is denied

Al Shaab Club and UAE national team footballer Rashid Abdul Rahman has threatened to retire if Fifa rules that his signing with Swiss club Yverdon is illegal.

"If the Fifa players' status committee decides that my signing with the new club is illegal, I will retire from soccer and return to the UAE to live in peace with my family," Abdul Rahman told a local newspaper.

Abdul Rahman who has been nicknamed Bosman of the UAE after the Belgian player Bosman who won a tough court battle against the UEFA in the European courts, resulting in a law being named the Bosman Law is financially secure as his European agent has clinched a lucrative $850,000 (Dh 3,123,750) insurance to support the player.

Excellent step

"I am very pleased with this excellent step which shows that the Swiss club are interested in me playing with them," he said.

The Al Shaab defender also dismissed rumours that his move to the Swiss club Yverdon was only a ruse to allow him to return to the UAE where he will sign for one of the richer clubs. "I heard a lot of rumours that my signing for Yverdon club will not last more than one year and that I actually intend to return to the UAE to play for Al Jazira club.

"I want to say that this is not true and that no club in the UAE is negotiating with me. I came to Switzerland to start my professional career and develop my standard and skills," Abdul Rahman added.

"I signed a three-year contract with the Swiss club and I will stick to the contract until the last day."

He said that he was paid $150,000 as a signing fee for Yverdon and that he will receive a monthly salary of $10,000.

"In addition to the signing fee and the monthly salary, I am living in a villa and they have given me a car and a life insurance policy," he said.

The Al Shaab player said that he was very sorry that the relationship between him and his club had soured. "I did not think the club will treat me like that. They threatened to complain against me to the Fifa," said Abdul Rahman.

"I thought they will help me to begin a new life as a professional in Europe and not put hurdles in front of me."

Abdul Rahman said that his return to Al Shaab club will be impossible under the current board of directors.

"I began playing football in Al Shaab club when I was seven years old and there was no contract,"he said.

"I love Al Shaab like my second home. I will only return to the club if Adnan Al Taliyani and his colleagues return to the club's board of directors."

See also Page 56