Liverpool won’t find out the final decision from UEFA regarding Mamadou Sakho’s suspension this week, according to a UEFA source.
The French defender, who tested positive for a fat burning substance in March, attended a hearing on Thursday, but UEFA won’t give their final verdict just yet.
That’s according to a UEFA source, who told ESPN the decision will be announced “in due course, but not before next week.”
However, another report, via AFP news agency, claims Liverpool will learn Sakho’s fate “within a few days.”
They quote a UEFA medical officer saying: “Some products entail an automatic ban and others not. In this case the player himself wanted the provisional ban and UEFA agreed to impose a 30-day ban.”
Sakho was handed an initial 30-day suspension in April but that wasn’t extended, with UEFA instead looking into whether the substance itself should be banned or not.
Sakho is reported to have admitted to taking the substance, but argued that it should not be deemed illegal.
The 26-year-old was keen to get his hearing done sooner than later, so the decision can be made before the new season begins next month.
Liverpool will be keen to hear the final verdict, as a long-term ban for the centre-back could mean Jurgen Klopp altering his plans and needing to sign another defender this summer.
With Martin Skrtel’s departure imminent and Kolo Toure having left the club, Klopp has Sakho, Dejan Lovren, new signing Joel Matip, and youngster Joe Gomez as his centre-back options at present.
The uncertainty over Sakho’s future means it isn’t clear whether he’ll don a Liverpool shirt for the first time since April when the Reds kick off their pre-season at Tranmere on Friday night. Sakho is currently not banned though and free to play if Liverpool desire.
Fan Comments