UEFA was supposed to have delivered their verdict on Mamadou Sakho on the back of the final hearing conducted in Paris on Thursday. However, it looks like the player will be made to wait further after UEFA sources revealed that it would take time for a decision to be made.
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho’s agonising wait for UEFA’s verdict on his doping scandal looks set to continue, as UEFA sources close to the ESPN have claimed that any decision on the Frenchman’s future will be revealed in the upcoming weeks. However, simultaneous reports emerging from the AFP news agency claim that Sakho’s fate will be out in the ‘coming days’.
The France international appeared before the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary body in Paris to have his final hearing when a final verdict from the governing body of European football was expected. With the delay, both the player and the club have an anxious wait regarding his future.
Sakho has already paid a heavy price due to the saga surrounding his doping violation, having lost out on a Europa League final appearance for the Reds and also missed out on the Euros which were played in his country.
The 26-year-old was first charged with a violation back in April, when a test following Liverpool’s Europa League round of 16 encounter with Manchester United, revealed that the Frenchman consumed illegal fat-burning drugs.
Following a provisional 30-day ban, the defender in the ensuing hearing claimed that he acted in good-faith and that he wasn’t aware of the composition of the weight-loss drug. However, through his claim for innocence, Sakho and his lawyer have put forward a case questioning the very presence of the ‘fat-burner’ in the list of banned substances. UEFA considered the argument and decided against extending or issuing any ban to Sakho up until the final hearing takes place.
Despite being theoretically available for selection, after having his ban lifted, Didier Deschamps excluded the Liverpool centre-back from the French squad for the European Championships. Whatever the decision, Sakho will have the right to appeal to UEFA regarding the outcome of the hearing and beyond that he could even take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in-order to fight for his innocence.
UEFA verdict to affect Liverpool’s summer transfer agenda?
The Frenchman will be free to play should he be cleared of all charges. However, if found guilty, he stands the risk of being dished out a ban in excess of 2 years. That, in retrospect, would affect the Reds’ strategy in the ongoing transfer window, as a ban would limit Liverpool’s options in centre-back going into the new season and they would have to dig into the market for a replacement. Including Sakho, the Merseysiders house five defenders in Dejan Lovren, new arrival Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Martin Skrtel. Skrtel is reportedly close to sealing an Anfield exit with a move to Fenerbahce, which brings down the Reds’ options to four.
However, as Joe Gomez still smarting from his ACL injury, a ban to Sakho will bring Liverpool’s options down to just two. Therefore, the 26-year-old’s UEFA verdict could go some way into influencing the Reds prospective signings here-after. With Klopp’s former protege Neven Subotic out on the free in the market, Liverpool could look towards the Serbian as a capable backup should their French defender invite a ban.
