Jean-Philippe Mateta has failed in his bid to invalidate the final year of his Crystal Palace contract after both FIFA and an independent Premier League tribunal ruled against the forward. FIFA declared it lacked jurisdiction to annul the agreement, while the Premier League panel found the contract remains binding.
The dispute centred on a one-year extension option activated by the club in 2024, keeping Mateta tied to Palace until June 2027. The striker, who joined on loan in 2021 before signing permanently in January 2022, has scored 67 goals for the club and nearly secured a move to AC Milan last January before a knee issue scuttled the transfer.
Manager Pierre Sage faces additional concerns after Chadi Riad was stretchered off with a knee injury during the opener against Everton, while Ismaïla Sarr missed the match with a groin problem despite interest from Galatasaray.