Chelsea will be unable to sign players in the next two transfer windows after being handed a ban for breaching FIFA rules. The ban relates to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.
Chelsea Handed Transfer Ban After Breaching FIFA Rules
Other Consequences
As well as the ban, the club have also been fined 600,000 Swiss francs while the Football Association has been given a fine of 510,000 Swiss francs.
However, the ban does not apply to the club’s women’s or futsal teams.
The club have three days to appeal the decision.
Waiting For Their Punishment
The news that Chelsea could be in trouble for the way they went about signing young players originally broke back in November. It was one of the many stories released by the Football Leaks website, which also included the suggestion of a breakaway European super league and allegations about Manchester City’s and Paris Saint-Germain’s ability to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP).
According to that original report, FIFA were investigating 19 signings that had been made by the club and had found the Blues guilty of breaking their rules with 14 of those signings. They also suggested that the club would receive a transfer ban and a fine of £45,000, which is equal to around 58,600 Swiss francs.
They Had Their Chance
The ban leaves Chelsea unable to strengthen in the next two windows, barring the unlikely scenario that someone of sufficient quality becomes available on loan. However, if the club knew of the possibility of a ban since November, it seems odd that they didn’t do more to strengthen the squad in the recent January transfer window.
The loan acquisition of Gonzalo Higuain was a good addition but the Blues have other problem areas on the pitch, particularly at left-back with the underperforming Marcos Alonso. However, it does mean that the Blues are now far more likely to dip into their seemingly endless pool of loan players – something that those players have probably been waiting for for a long time.
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