Webster transfer settled

Andy Webster: Exploited a loop-hole in EU employment law

Webster took advantage of Article 17 in FIFA's player status and transfer regulations. Article 17 enables termination after three years when a contract is due to end before the player's 28th birthday, and also allows older players to leave after two years, providing compensation is paid.

In an unusual ruling, it was Webster, and not Wigan Athletic who were instructed to pay the compensation figure of £625,000 (later reduced to £150,000 on appeal) to Hearts.

Now 25, the Scotish international centre back is happy that the transfer has been completed, despite currently being out on loan with Rangers.

Webster said: "I didn't envisage this would happen. But when I went to Switzerland in October last year that's when I realised it was a big deal as both sets of legal teams were there and you could see what they were arguing over.

"It was not just about football, it was about the laws governing the game in general, so that is when I saw for myself the importance of the case and what a big thing it was.

"I now hear big-name stars talking about moving in a similar way and it was me that was the guinea pig right at the start. It has taken 20 months for my situation to be concluded but for the next person it will probably take a couple of days.

"But when I made my decision to leave Hearts two summers ago that was it and once the wheels were in motion it was a matter of persevering and pushing for what I believed in."