Birmingham today vowed to fight claims by Spanish club Osasuna that they had signed Argentinian striker Luciano Figueroa before he joined the Blues.
Osasuna have complained to FIFA about the transfer but Birmingham have issued a strongly-worded statement in their defence. Figueroa moved to Birmingham earlier this month for £2.5million from the Argentinian club Rosario Central, but it appears his lawyer had previously signed some sort of agreement with Osasuna.
Birmingham's statement said: "The transfer of Luciano Figueroa to Birmingham City was completed on August 4th 2003, with the authority of both the Argentinian and English Football Associations.
"Throughout the entire transfer Birmingham City acted professionally and properly, ensuring that every requirement was met and there has never been any suggestion to the contrary.
"Sometime after the transfer was concluded and Luciano Figueroa was a Birmingham City player, Osasuna claimed to already have a contract with Figueroa and subsequently asked FIFA to investigate their claim.
"Birmingham City had no knowledge that they had a claim to make. Osasuna claim that this contract is signed by the player, but having spoken to the player he has confirmed to Birmingham City that he did not sign anything with Osasuna. The paperwork was actually signed by the player's lawyer."
Osasuna have claimed that Birmingham offered to sell the player to them if they match the price paid to the Argentinian club rather than become involved in a battle with FIFA.
Birmingham confirmed the club's managing director Karren Brady has sent two letters to Osasuna, and that the second "was an attempt to get them to `put up or shut up'."
The statement goes on: "Osasuna have no agreement with Rosario Central, and therefore the paperwork that they have holds no weight.
"Birmingham City is confident that Osasuna do not have a case, and they believe that this action is a veiled attempt at publicity. They also believe that if Osasuna genuinely want to sign the player, they would have confirmed this and they would have paid for him."
FIFA are looking into the matter and are expected to confirm their findings within the next 24 hours.