Incoming Celtic recruit Alexandro Bernabei could avoid carrying over a two-game ban into the Premiership season after a delay in his transfer.
Ange Postecoglou's side look certain to snap up the left back from Lanus in a £3.75million deal after he arrived in Glasgow last Friday but he has yet to be announced. His last game for his club in Argentina in their Primera Division saw him receive a straight red card for a headbutt aimed at Colon defender Augusto Schott after a bust-up.
The Argentinian Football Association handed Bernabei a two-game ban for violent conduct, which could be carried over once the move is complete when the SFA request the International Transfer Certificate for the full-back. The decision of carrying over a player's future suspension in their documents when the player is transfer is made by the individual national associations.
Should the AFA decide to carry over the case, the SFA rulebook makes it clear the suspension would have to be served in Scotland. The rule book states: "In the event that a National Association indicates that a player is subject to a suspension, or part thereof, which remains outstanding at the time when his FIFA International Transfer Certificate is issued to the Scottish FA, then such suspension shall apply 14 days after the Certificate is received and his registration put into effect."
However the new Celtic recruit could avoid a ban completely, with one game already being served during his time at Lanus. Bernabei missed the defeat to River Plate on Sunday as he jetted off to Glasgow to iron out the final details on his move to the Premiership champions.
Lanus are set to face Independiente del Valle on Thursday, meaning both games of the 21-year-old's ban will have been served while in Argentina. If the deal is not rubber stamped by Friday that would clear the full-back to play in the opening day of the season of the season against Aberdeen, and could explain the delay in getting the deal over the line. Certainly that’s the theory some Celtic fans have posted online.
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