Crystal Palace striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta, has taken a dispute over his contract to FIFA.
The French player is questioning the last year of his Palace deal, which is set to end in June 2027.
According to BBC Sport on Saturday, Mateta believes that the optional extension triggered by the club is not valid.
Mateta joined Palace from Mainz in January 2021 on an 18-month loan. He made the move permanent in January 2022.
He signed a four-and-a-half-year deal that included an option for another 12 months.
Palace used that option in 2024, extending Mateta’s stay until the end of the 2026-27 season.
The 29-year-old’s case was looked at by an independent tribunal under Premier League rules. There has been no official word on the outcome, but it seems Mateta’s contract is still valid.
He then took the issue to FIFA, but the governing body said it does not have jurisdiction over this matter.
Mateta is still a key player at Selhurst Park and started Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton on Saturday.
His future with the club has been a hot topic since January when he almost joined AC Milan. That move fell through after a problem was found during his medical.
Palace has also reportedly given Mateta a new contract offer that could keep him at the club until 2030, but they have not reached an agreement yet.
Mateta has scored over 60 goals for Palace and has been crucial to the club’s recent achievements, including their FA Cup and UEFA Conference League wins.
If his challenge is successful, Mateta might become a free agent before the current end date of his Palace contract.
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