Levante president Francisco Catalan has criticised Fulham for a breakdown in communication over Bryan Ruiz's proposed loan switch earlier this month.
The Costa Rican international was expected to make a move to the La Liga outfit on deadline day, although a transfer broke down at the last minute due to a misunderstanding.
Fulham boss Kit Symons suggested that his side completed their end of the bargain with all the terms being agreed, although Catalan has hit back by claiming that the Cottagers failed to realise that the mid-season window closed three days earlier in Spain.
"The transfer was going ahead in the evening [of deadline day] when the player requested the move but the paperwork didn't arrive in a timely manner," he told Marca. "Fulham didn't realise that the deadline was Friday because they thought it was Monday. We must abide by and respect the decision of FIFA, but I just don't understand it, although the rules are well established. I have little else to say.
Pushed on whether a move was deliberately sabotaged, Catalan added: "Neither do I want, nor can I think about that. It wouldn't be fair to the player or Levante. I'd be doing a disservice to football. [Fulham] didn't manage their time well. There's little or no argument from us. Basically we didn't adhere to the deadline and 12.01am [on January 31] was too late.
"It's nothing we didn't know already, but there's the feeling of powerlessness and misunderstanding, though we respect the logic [of the decision]. Money wasn't a problem, I wish it was one. Fulham regarded Bryan as a key player. If there's a delay of one minute, it's because the documentation wasn't submitted in time. The player's conduct has been excellent, for him it was a dream to play in Spain."
Ruiz, who joined Fulham from FC Twente for a fee of £10m in 2011, is out of contract at Craven Cottage in the summer.
Daniel Lewis
