BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - Thursday, July 19, 2018: Liverpool's goalkeeper Loris Karius during a preseason friendly match between Blackburn Rovers FC and Liverpool FC at Ewood Park. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Loris Karius forced to take legal action with FIFA against loan club Besiktas

Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has contacted FIFA to appeal for action after his complaint over unpaid wages at loan club Besiktas fell on deaf ears.

Karius’ time in Istanbul has not been a wholly positive one, adding to his woes after a miserable end to his time as the Reds’ No. 1 in the summer.

The German’s switch to Besiktas was designed to revitalise his career after universal scrutiny over his concussion-led errors in the Champions League final, but instead he is now fighting a different battle.

According to BILD, Karius claims he has not been paid by his loan club for four months, amounting to over €1 million.

The 25-year-old took legal action against Besiktas on February 20, requesting payment within 10 days, and with this deadline having passed without reparation, FIFA’s intervention may be required.

Goal report that “it is possible that Besiktas could be stung with a point deduction or exclusion from the Europa League.”

This would be a major setback for the Turkish side, who are already struggling in the Super Lig this season, five points behind second-placed Galatasaray and trailing leaders Istanbul Basaksehir by 13.

Liverpool’s deal with Besiktas saw them pay an initial £2.25 million fee, with an obligatory £7.25 million transfer lined up midway through his two-season loan if certain performance and appearance-based criteria were met.

Karius has remained Senol Gunes’ first-choice goalkeeper, but with the possibility of missing out on the Europa League they may not meet the targets set for a permanent move.

Goalkeeper Loris Karius of Besiktas during the Turkish Superlig Match between Bursaspor and Besiktas at Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium in Bursa , Turkey on September 02 , 2018 (Seskimphoto/Imago/PA Images)

Gunes was publicly, and harshly, critical of Karius after Besiktas’ 3-2 win over Konyaspor on Sunday, questioning the stopper’s “enthusiasm for the game” and suggesting his hands were tied over selecting him.

“Karius has gone a bit stagnant, something is wrong with his electricity, motivation, enthusiasm for the game,” he said.

“It has been like that since the beginning. He does not really feel a part of the team.

“It’s something we haven’t been able to work out and, of course, I am partly to blame for this.

“Something is wrong, he has also been unlucky. [He] is talented but it hasn’t worked out and we have a problem.

“Let me put it this way, if I still had Tolga [Zengin] available I would play him.”

Karius’ legal case could shed further light on Gunes’ treatment of him, and compounds a turbulent time for a player once considered the solution to Liverpool’s goalkeeping woes.

His place has since been taken by Alisson, who on Tuesday deflected claims he is close to becoming one of the world’s best, telling reporters before the Champions League decider at Bayern Munich: “I’m just starting.”