Madjid Bougherra allegedly invokes 'Webster Ruling'

[Raligt 2,541]

Madjid Bougherra invokes 'Webster Ruling' as he turns his back on Ibrox

Published Date: 05 June 2011

By Ewing Grahame

Madjid Bougherra has informed Rangers that he won't be playing for them next season. It's believed that they have received a letter from the Algerian defender, sent by recorded delivery, telling them that he's chosen to invoke Article 17 of FIFA's regulation for the status and transfer of players.

Better known as the Webster Ruling - after Andy Webster, who became the first player to exploit it when he left Hearts in 2006 - it states that any player who is 28 or older can buy out the remainder of his contract two years after the original deal was signed.

Bougherra was 28 in October and he signed from Charlton Athletic for £2.5m in July, 2008.

His contract has only one more season to run and he can now buy his freedom for his basic annual wage, which means Rangers would receive just £1m.

It's believed that clubs interested in signing Bougherra have been quoted a fee of £3m but he prefers to leave on his own terms.

He hopes to attract offers from the Premier League and expects the lower price tag to make him a more attractive proposition.

Bougherra, as FIFA's regulations dictate, has supplied Rangers with notice of his intentions within 15 days of the final league fixture of the season.

The player has won three SPL championships as well as one Scottish Cup and a League Cup during his time at Ibrox and his decision to leave will present a problem for new manager Ally McCoist and owner Craig Whyte, one which will be exacerbated should club captain David Weir, 40, decide to retire or move on.

Webster set a precedent when he walked out on Hearts to sign for Wigan Athletic in August, 2006, in spite of having a year left on his contract at Tynecastle.

Hearts, who had valued the Scotland defender at £650,000, pursued the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, who ruled that they were entitled to only £150,000 in compensation.

Ironically, Rangers took advantage of Webster's failure to break into Wigan's first team to bring him back north but the injury-prone 29-year-old started just three matches for them in four years and is now back at Tynecastle.

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Madjid-Bougherra-invokes-39Webster-Ruling39.6779814.jp

[Raligt 2,541]

Just to add. What a cunt.

[Maxou 66]

FFS what a cunt !

Fuck you boughie

[H72 265]

This better not be true.

Words cannot describe how angry and disappointed I'll be if it is.

I really hope he hasn't tarnished his time at Rangers by doing something as disrespectful as this to aid his move to the Premier League where he's by no means guaranteed to be successful.

[We Are The People 62]

Ungrateful.

The things this club has done for him and he turns his back on us.

Feck off.

[MCLACHLAN1 49]

If true he will leave me with a very bitter taste in my mouth.

He should remember where he was and what he had achieved before we signed him.

[philiprfc 1,799]

Hope to fuck this is BS.

[Nicika Jelavic 7]

No fucking way.

[Maxou 66]

What a fucking prick !!! Just interested in money. :angry:

Hope it is shite but...

[H72 265]

Surely, this isn't true?

[King Jela 20,361]

he can fuck off, he's been wanting a move for ages now.

I'm extremely bitter towards him.

[gunslinger 270]

good luck to him. clubs have agreed not to touch players who do this.

[Papa Sasac 164]

Not surprising if it is true, been gagging for a move away for ages. Fuck him, bring in Bartley plus another centre back and we're sorted.

[Creampuff 22,628]

I'll wait until it's official, but if it is then he's no longer welcome around these parts.

[J-Maestro 11,093]

Thought clubs had agreed not to get players in this way anyway?

[Maxou 66]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1394427/Madjid-Bougherra-leave-Rangers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

It's in the daily mail... Fuck you madjid

He was nothing before we bought him. We made him the player he is. He should have waited for us to sell him. What a coward. Fucking cunt

[H72 265]

I absolutely love Madjid Bougherra which makes this even tougher to swallow.

Surely not.

He owes Rangers so much. He's spent the highest points of his career at Rangers. Arguably, Rangers were responsible for his national team success for Algeria too.

If true, then fuck you, Madjid. You cunt.

[MisterC 12,270]

Ewing Grahame is a journo who is a freelance and is reduced to small match reports in the papers at weekends. I will believe this when I see something concrete.

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

"Madjid Bougherra has informed Rangers that he won't be playing for them next season. It's believed that they have received a letter from the Algerian defender, sent by recorded delivery, telling them that he's chosen to invoke Article 17 of FIFA's regulation for the status and transfer of players.

Better known as the Webster Ruling - after Andy Webster, who became the first player to exploit it when he left Hearts in 2006 - it states that any player who is 28 or older can buy out the remainder of his contract two years after the original deal was signed.

Bougherra was 28 in October and he signed from Charlton Athletic for £2.5m in July, 2008.

His contract has only one more season to run and he can now buy his freedom for his basic annual wage, which means Rangers would receive just £1m.

It's believed that clubs interested in signing Bougherra have been quoted a fee of £3m but he prefers to leave on his own terms.

He hopes to attract offers from the Premier League and expects the lower price tag to make him a more attractive proposition.

Bougherra, as FIFA's regulations dictate, has supplied Rangers with notice of his intentions within 15 days of the final league fixture of the season.

The player has won three SPL championships as well as one Scottish Cup and a League Cup during his time at Ibrox and his decision to leave will present a problem for new manager Ally McCoist and owner Craig Whyte, one which will be exacerbated should club captain David Weir, 40, decide to retire or move on.

Webster set a precedent when he walked out on Hearts to sign for Wigan Athletic in August, 2006, in spite of having a year left on his contract at Tynecastle.

Hearts, who had valued the Scotland defender at £650,000, pursued the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, who ruled that they were entitled to only £150,000 in compensation.

Ironically, Rangers took advantage of Webster's failure to break into Wigan's first team to bring him back north but the injury-prone 29-year-old started just three matches for them in four years and is now back at Tynecastle."

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Madjid-Bougherra-invokes-39Webster-Ruling39.6779814.jp

[RoyCropper 574]

cunt if thats true

[caseyjones 3,009]

Why the fuck is anyone surprised?

[bluebear1971 54]

This is ridiculous if true - why would he grudge us a couple of million transfer fee? I really would not bother if we got money for him and he moved on - but to do it this way is a disgrace and he will be remembered at Gers for doing this rather than his performances.

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

Edit: just saw the other thread on this, sorry.

[Raligt 2,541]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1394427/Madjid-Bougherra-leave-Rangers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

It's in the daily mail... Fuck you madjid

He was nothing before we bought him. We made him the player he is. He should have waited for us to sell him. What a coward. Fucking cunt

Same journo maxou

[King Jela 20,361]

Fat wanker, traitor, juudas, cunt, just a few of the words I could use to describe that cunt.

Get to fuck and don't come back, cunt.