ZCZC
BSP-09
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FIFA-TRANSFERS
Chelsea banned from signing new players for next two transfer windows
LONDON, Feb 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Premier League club Chelsea have been
banned from signing new players in the next two transfer windows as
punishment for breaking rules on registering under-age players, FIFA said on
Friday.
It means the club — who immediately said they would appeal the decision –
– will be unable to make signings until the end of January next year.
“The disciplinary committee sanctioned Chelsea with a ban on registering
new players at both national and international level for the next two
complete and consecutive registration periods,” FIFA said in a statement.
In addition, Chelsea were fined 600,000 Swiss francs ($600,000, 530,000
euros) and given a period of 90 days to regularise the situation of the minor
players concerned.
The ban does not prevent players being released by the club and it does
not apply to Chelsea’s women’s and futsal teams.
Chelsea have been given three days to appeal against FIFA’s decision,
which could prove highly damaging, for example preventing the club from
signing a replacement for Eden Hazard if the star player leaves the club.
“Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA disciplinary
committee and will therefore be appealing the decision,” said a statement on
the club’s website.
“Initially, Chelsea FC was charged… in relation to 92 players,” it
added. “We welcome the fact that FIFA has accepted that there was no breach
in relation to 63 of these players, but the club is extremely disappointed
that FIFA has not accepted the club’s submissions in relation to the
remaining 29 players.”
The move follows a FIFA probe into Chelsea’s signing of foreign under-18
players, including the club’s former forward Bertrand Traore, a Burkina Faso
international who now plays for French Ligue 1 club Lyon.
Traore signed professional forms for Chelsea in 2013 at the age of 18 but
was not registered until January the following year.
French website Mediapart, quoting documents from Football Leaks, reported
that FIFA found evidence that Chelsea had supplied misleading information
about Traore’s signing and that he had made more than 20 appearances for the
club at different age levels despite not being registered by the Football
Association (FA).
FIFA said Friday it was also fining the Football Association 510,000 Swiss
francs for breaking the rules on signing minors.
The world governing body gave the FA a period of six months to update its
processes concerning international transfers and the registration of minors.
The FA responded on Twitter, saying: “The FA notes the decision of the
FIFA disciplinary committee published today. The FA has cooperated fully with
FIFA’s investigations, although we have raised some concerns with FIFA
regarding its disciplinary processes.
“The FA intends to appeal the decision. We will however continue to work
with FIFA and Chelsea in a constructive manner to address the issues which
are raised by this case.”
BSS/AFP/BZC/1805HRS