Bayern Munich star Franck “Bilal” Ribery has been called to court in Marseille after his former agent Bruno Heiderscheid accused him of fraud. The court call is a glimmer of hope for Galatasaray for which Ribery played for 6 months in 2005 before signing for Olympique Marseilles on a free transfer.

Ribery had left Istanbul without even packing his personal belongings from his home to sign for Marseilles. Ribery defended himself by claiming that he had left Galatasaray as his wages were not paid on time, which later was proven false as Galatasaray President Ozhan Canaydin made the bank records and receipts public at a press conference proving Ribery indeed received his wage in time and even used the funds transferred into his account.

It is understood that Ribery's new agents Jean Pierre Bernes and Alain Migliaccio had changed the expiry date on Ribery contract with Galatasaray to June 14 2005 to allow Olympique Marseille sign Ribery for free.

Galatasaray management took the matter to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) claiming that the players transfer to Marseilles was illegal and thus demanded compensation from Marseilles and Ribery. Galatasaray’s claim was also supported by Bruno Heiderscheid, who managed the France winger between 2005 and 2007. Heiderscheid  claimed that Ribery and Marseille falsified documents related to his transfer from Galatasaray in July 2005 to cut him out of a commission as well as making his Galatasaray contract invalid.

At the time of transfer, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of the player, but it is reported that Heiderscheid has managed to bring civil proceedings against Ribery.

The failure in the court cost Ozhan Canaydin his chair at the club.

After a successful season with Marseilles and French national team,  Ribery signed a 4-year contract with Bayern Munich for a €26 Million fee and is reportedly a transfer target for the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United..

With CAS accepting Heiderscheid's appeal, Galatasaray will be receiving a compensation fee between 10 million and 25 million euros once the court finds Ribery and Marseilles guilty.

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