Real Betis remain hopeful that their deal for West Ham United midfielder Pablo Fornals will be ratified by FIFA, after a computer error late on deadline day threw things into chaos.
ABC Sevilla cover the matter today alongside comments from Betis CEO Ramón Alarcón, who has insisted they have done everything they can to get the transfer over the line.
The newspaper explains that Betis are ‘awaiting the final resolution’ on the signing of Fornals from West Ham, with “computer problems” at the London Stadium causing issues late last night.
The Hammers had to produce the documents that would formalise the international registration of the Spanish midfielder and make him a Betis player, with La Liga having provisionally validated the arrival to Betis.
However, West Ham forgot to include the agent who carried out the operation in the TMS documentation and so the system did not recognise or sanction the transfer.
FIFA now need to review the deal in depth to see if they can authorise the transfer of Fornals, with analysis set to take place in Zurich today. Betis are pushing for this to be done as they need Fornals registered today so he can be formally registered in their squad for the Conference League, which must also be finalised on Friday.
“There is an issue with Fornals at the last minute,” Alarcón told journalists.
“An incident that we believe is computer science, that we are working on to justify it.
“Betis provided all the documents in a timely manner, and it seems that West Ham has had a problem with their computer tool.
“It has not only been in the case of Betis but in other cases that it has had, and we hope that it will be resolved in the coming days. The substance of the matter is done. We understand that it is a computer error, and it will be resolved. We are working on it. We are optimistic, although we must be cautious in these things.”
