It seems that there is an issue with the loan transfer between Ajax and Saints and that the necessary paperwork may not have been completed in time, the proverbial is hitting the fan in all directions.
sportwitness are reporting that "All hell is breaking loose in the Netherlands.
They say:
"Ajax went public on Tuesday evening to say they’re still waiting for FIFA to give them the green light. The assumption is that the transfer didn’t go through on time and the Dutch side provided proof otherwise or reasons why."
They go on to quote Dutch football lawyers Michiel van Dijk and Frans de Weger and what they have to say is not good reading for either Southampton or Ajax.
De Weger is quoted as saying:
"I think it’s going to be a very difficult story. In TMS (Transfer Matching System) there is a deadline clock at the top right. It runs until 00.00.00. Until then, clubs have time to upload all the paperwork. Think of the transfer contract, the player contract; the financial details.
"If the other club, in this case Southampton, has not done so on time, there is no match and FIFA will not give the green light. Then the transfer simply does not go through. Everything must be in before midnight. That is the basic rule.”
Van Dijk added:
"The responsibility really lies with the purchasing party. In that respect, it is very black and white. There is no grey area. That is deliberately not there, really to prevent you from haggling. If you do not strictly adhere to that deadline, then all hell breaks loose.”
De Weger explained that whilst there’s some flexibility possible if there’s been a technical failure, the possibility of FIFA allowing that is very low indeed:
"A technical defect, yes, that could be possible. But that has never happened before. And something like a bad WiFi connection or power failure will not stand. As a club, you are responsible for ensuring that the internet simply works.”
The upshot is that it seems that one of the two clubs hasn't completed the paperwork and registered it properly and if that is the case then Sulemana will be returning back to St Mary's