Spain Grants Nihat E.U. Status, Rejects Rustu

In a statement aired on Radio Catalonia, Garridon said, "All soccer players who want have the E.U. status have to initiate a lawsuit win it. Rustu will not be granted the E.U. status, because his and Nihat’s conditions are different." The Madrid High Court decided to recognize Nihat as a (B) type soccer player according to E.U. statutes. If Barcelona wants Rustu to be granted the same status they will have to take their case up with the courts.

Barcelona said that it would be very difficult to hang on to Rustu if he was not granted EU status. Rustu came to Barcelona at the beginning of this season and has been riding the bench during the last two games because of a run of poor form.