Turkish club Beşiktaş JK reportedly will apply to FIFA for a temporary license allowing Orlando City striker Cyle Larin to compete while there is an ongoing battle over his contract, according to CNN Turkey.
“No, we don’t have any information about this,” Orlando City vice president of communications Diogo Kotscho told Pro Soccer USA. “No one has sent us any request for documentation, not FIFA, not Beşiktaş, not anyone.”
Larin passed a medical exam and began training with Beşiktaş this week rather than showing up to Orlando City’s preseason camp. His absence was expected, though Lions coach Jason Kreis said Monday nothing had changed with the club’s position that Larin is a contracted player should have been there with the rest of the roster.
Beşiktaş'ın yeni transferi Cyle Larin bugünkü antrenmana katıldı. MSL’nin Cyle Larin'a vereceği cezayı futbolcunun kendisinin karşılayacağı Beşiktaşlı yetkililer tarafından belirtildi. @Hakan_gundogar pic.twitter.com/BOM3Ui6iLq
— Kartal Analiz (@kartalanalizcom) January 23, 2018
“He was supposed to be here,” Kreis said. “Whether or not there will be repercussions for not being here is a little above my pay grade. We look at that situation and say he’s an MLS and Orlando City player until we hear differently.”
When Besiktas first posted photos of Larin in its jersey to social media, Orlando City made clear the Canadian striker remained under contract and action would be taken against the Turkish club. The Lions then hired an attorney and notified Besiktas of the issue — Larin had a three-year contract with two option years, the first of which was exercised at the end of the 2017 season, so an agreed upon transfer was necessary.
The battle over a transfer fee likely will continue even if Larin is granted temporary allowance to play overseas.