Belenenses face six-point penalty for improper use of Meyong

Breach of FIFA and FPF rules could prove costly

Belenenses could be docked six points for the improper use of new signing Meyong in Sunday’s Bwin Liga match against Naval.

The striker signed on loan from La Liga side Levante scored the winning goal from the penalty spot but it now transpires that the Lisbon club has infringed FIFA and Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) rules that state a player cannot represent three different clubs in the same season.

Meyong played ten minutes for Levante on 26 August 2007 against Mallorca, before being loaned out to second-division Albacete, for whom he also played.

The laws of both the World and Portuguese football governing bodies state that between 1 July and 30 June the following year a player may play for a maximum of two clubs in official competition.

The player himself and Belenenses have both admitted they were unaware of the ruling, but the lapse could prove extremely costly.

Should the stipulated six-point penalty be imposed it would seriously dent the Lisbon club’s chances of qualifying for Europe for a second successive year.

Belenenses currently lie in eighth place in the table, just two points off fifth spot – the last Uefa Cup berth.


Related: Striker Meyong delighted to be back at Belenenses