By Tayo Joseph, Lagos
World football governing body FIFA said on Friday it has ended its involvement in Brazil forward Neymar’s dispute with his former club FC Barcelona.
The dispute was over an outstanding bonus payment of 43 million euros (37.88 million pounds).
A spokesperson for the organisation told Reuters via email that as the dispute had been submitted to different bodies, FIFA was not in a position to mediate.
These bodies are understood to be the Spanish court system.
“The FIFA administration informed the parties to the dispute that based on the long-standing and well-established jurisprudence of FIFA’s deciding bodies, it did not seem to be in a position to continue with the investigation of the affair,” the spokesperson said.
“The proceedings were therefore closed for formal reasons.”
A spokesperson for Neymar said last month that the Brazilian was suing Barca over the non-payment.
He said the Paris St Germain (PSG) player was due the amount plus 10 percent interest on the bonus he agreed for signing a new contract with the La Liga side two years ago.
FC Barcelona paid Neymar the first part of a signing bonus after he agreed a new five-year deal in 2016.
But last August the Spanish club said they were suing Neymar for breach of contract.
They wanted him to return the money he received before joining Ligue 1 club PSG for a world record transfer fee of 222 million euros ($273.13 million) in August 2017.
Neymar refused and the two parties have been at loggerheads since.
The 26-year-old Neymar has scored 19 goals in 19 league games for PSG, helping to lift them 12 points clear at the top of the French Ligue 1.
However, the French side need to stage a comeback against Real Madrid if they are to remain in the UEFA Champions League.
PSG lost the first leg of their last 16 tie at Real Madrid 3-1 and host the 12-times European champions in the return leg at the Parc des Princes on March 6.
