Barcelona's Messi appeal: Court reaches final decision on transfer

Karan Tejwani

• 8 Feb 2023 12:35 GMT
• 2 min read

Barcelona fans were certainly disappointed when Lionel Messi left the club for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and the departure still stings.

A group of Barcelona fans in Lyon last year tried to get the European Court to take action against the transfer but that appeal has now been rejected on Wednesday.

The group – Penya Lyon, More Than Supporters – went to court to try and get them to take action the French Football Association and question the state-affiliated ownership of PSG.

READ: ‘Messi’s extension is bullsh*t’

They also wanted to investigate the funding of the transfer, but the judges overseeing the issue weren’t interested or sympathetic.

Court reject fans appeal

Overseeing the case in Luxembourg, the judges weren’t having any of it as they suggested the fans weren’t PSG’s economic rivals and had no grounds for a case.

They also said the fans weren’t an “interested party” in defence of football as a sport since they don’t know how it affects them personally.

READ: Campos comments delivers blow to Barcelona's Messi hopes

The court also said they had no power to issue injunctions to order institutions in the European Union to take action as a particular fan group – such as Penya Lyon – would want.

As a result, the fan group’s claims have gone to waste and backs the Commission’s refusal to accept complaints over the transfer.

Messi is in the final few months of his contract at PSG and is expected to renew his deal at the club in order to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes.

He was linked with a return to Barcelona but the club’s financial situation meant that a return to the club looks difficult and they can’t afford to bring him back.

There was also a transfer to Inter Miami linked but it seems as though Messi is intent on extending his stay in Paris as he is now more settled there, as evident by his improved form.