UEFA: Thibaut Courtois (Atlético Madrid) must be allowed to play against Chelsea in Champions League

"Both the Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match", UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) stated on 11/04/2014.

This UEFA statement comes after reports from several media outlets that a clause in the contract of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan to Atlético Madrid (Liga BBVA) from Chelsea FC (Premier League), would force the Spanish club to pay several million euros to the English club (€3,6m or €10m, depending on the source) in order to field its player against the Blues in an official competition. Both teams will compete in the semi-finals of the 2013-14 Champions League (22 and 30/04/2014).

"Any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as UEFA is concerned", added the European body. "Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a…