Fifa rules halt Ronaldo

The Spanish federation has been informed by Fifa that the buyouts8217; or withdrawal clauses in Spanish League contracts are valid for domestic transfers only. Moves abroad must be negotiated by the two teams.

If Inter are forced to negotiate directly with Barcelona, who recently signed Ronaldo until 2004, they are bound to face a massive transfer fee.

8220;The provision is strictly Spanish law and does not apply internationally,8221; said Fifa deputy secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen. 8220;The Italian club apparently believes the rule applies everywhere and once a player is free on Spanish territory is free to sign whereever.8221;

According to Ruffinen there has only been one instance where a player has bought out his contract to obtain a transfer, Russian Valeri Karpin making use of the provision to jump from one Spanish club to another.

8220;That move was recognised as valid but that was within the country,8221; said Zen-Ruffinen.

Fifa said it had not yet been asked to intervene in the increasingly complicated dispute although it had received a complaint from the Spanish federation submitted on behalf of Barcelona.

The complaint claims that Inter are in violation of Fifa Article 13, which states that, any club wishing to talk to a player under contract to another club must obtain permission from his current club first.

8220;Which apparently has not been done,8221; said Zen-Ruffinen.