Brazil’s international transfer window set to open early

FGF, the Gaucho Football Federation, initially submitted a request to FIFA to bring the opening of the window forward to allow Gremio’s new signing Gilberto Silva to play in the early rounds of the Brasileirão. The former Arsenal man agreed to join from Greek side Panathinaikos, but would not normally have been allowed to make […]
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sambafoot_admin
2011-05-31 18:21:00

FGF, the Gaucho Football Federation, initially submitted a request to FIFA to bring the opening of the window forward to allow Gremio’s new signing Gilberto Silva to play in the early rounds of the Brasileirão. The former Arsenal man agreed to join from Greek side Panathinaikos, but would not normally have been allowed to make his debut until the middle of August.

 

However, Globoesporte revealed that in a statement by FIFA yesterday, football’s world governing body gave the Brazil Football Confederation permission to move the start of the window forward by nearly two months to June 15. As well as Gremio, other sides have concluded deals to sign players from foreign countries, and will now be able to field them much earlier than had been expected.

 

The decision comes at an odd time considering the scrutiny FIFA is currently under, due to allegations of corruption within the federation, but means that the likes of Alex, who recently signed for Corinthians from Spartak Moscow, and Renato, who has agreed to move from Sevilla to Botafogo, will both be able to begin playing for their new teams in just over two weeks.

 

Originally, they would have had to wait until at least 17 rounds of matches had been played before they could participate, but now they will be allowed to feature in the fifth set of fixtures.