Tottenham were forced to rip up Matt Doherty’s contract to allow him to join Atletico Madrid due to a new FIFA rule. Doherty has joined the La Liga club on a free transfer following a huge twist of events on deadline day.
Earlier on Tuesday, the wing-back seemed destined to join Atletico in a loan deal. However, Spurs surprisingly announced later in the evening that Doherty’s contract had been terminated by mutual consent.
It turns out that Doherty would not have been allowed to leave on loan due to a little-known FIFA rule that was introduced at the start of the season. Clubs are only allowed to send eight players out on temporary deals during a campaign.
Had Doherty departed on loan, the Irishman would have exceeded the maximum number of players who had left the club in a temporary deal. Bryan Gil’s departure to Sevilla on Monday meant he joined Tanguy Ndombele, Harry Winks, Djed Spence, Sergio Reguilon, Gio Lo Celso, Destiny Udogie and Joe Rodon in being loaned to a foreign club.
