May 8 – Chelsea have had partial success with their appeal against the two-window transfer ban given to them by FIFA but not enough to allow them to buy new players in either of the next two transfer windows.
The FIFA Appeal Committee has added an exception to the ban allowing the club to continue to register players under the age of 16 “who do not fall under the scope of art. 19 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which refers to international transfers and first registrations of foreign minor players.”
The transfer ban does not cover either women’s or futsal teams.
Chelsea’s transfer ban was initially for breaking FIFA rules relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18. Essentially the rules are in place for the protection of minors and have caught a number of European clubs, including Barcelona, in the past.
Chelsea were found to have broken the rules in the case of 29 minor players and “to have committed several other infringements relating to registration requirements for players. The club also breached art. 18bis of the Regulations in connection with two agreements it concluded concerning minors and which allowed it to influence other clubs in transfer-related matters,” said a FIFA statement when the initial ban was handed down.
While the ban prevents Chelsea buying new players until the Summer of 2020, it will not prevent Chelsea selling players and the expected €120 million departure of Eden Hazard could still go ahead.
The fine of CHF 600,000 also remains in place.
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