'Boro ordered by FIFA to pay seven-figure sum for striker'

The International Football Federation has ordered Middlesbrough FC to pay a seven-figure sum to the Spanish club.

According to reports coming out from Spain, FIFA have told Boro to stump up the remaining amount to Spanish club Murcia for the acquisition of striker Kike Garcia in 2014.

Middlesbrough had signed Kike in 2014 for an initial fee of €2.5million, with a clause in his contract stipulating that Boro have to pay an additional €1million if they gained promotion to the Premier League.

Despite having a great start to his career, Kike was unable to get game time, and moved back to Spain to join Eibar in 2016.

However, since Eibar had completed his signing on February 2nd, they were unable to register Garcia in time, with the result that the striker was unable to play for them for the remainder of the season.

As a result, while Middlesbrough had allowed Kike to leave, technically, he was their player until the end of the campaign.

At the end of 2016/17 season, when Boro secured their promotion to the Premier League, Murcia came calling for the additional €1million which they claimed were owed to them by Boro.

La Opinion de Murcia further claims that since the Spanish club were short of cash back then, they offered Boro the chance to pay half of the amount, €500k.

Middlesbrough, after complaining that the player was not on their payroll, decided not to take the offer, following which Murcia took the case to FIFA which has now ruled in favour of the Spanish club.

Murcia’s claim in the court was that Kike had made 19 appearances for Boro that season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in the meantime, hence they deserved to get the money claimed under the promotion-related clause.

Apart from ordering Boro to cough up the money, FIFA have also fixed a deadline of 30 days for the club to make the payment, though Middlesbrough could further extend the case if they decide to file a review appeal.

In addition to the €1million fee, Boro would have to pay an additional €100k in interest, which means they will pay €600k more than the figure they refused earlier.