FIFA bars Chelsea from signing players for next 2 transfer windows
Chelsea were banned from signing players for the next two windows and fined 600,000 Swiss francs (£460,000) after a FIFA investigation found the club in breach of rules regarding the recruitment of underage players.
The Blues said they'll appeal the sanction. If upheld, the ban would last the entire 2019-20 season.
FIFA also fined the Football Association 510,000 Swiss francs (£390,000) for a similar infraction.
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee ruled Chelsea guilty of signing 29 minors against regulations. Players under the age of 18 cannot join a foreign club unless their families move to the country for non-football reasons. Clubs are, however, allowed to make transfers within the European Union if the player is aged between 16 and 18 and granted "adequate football education and/or training in line with the highest national standards."
One of the transfers reportedly under scrutiny involves Burkina Faso international Bertrand Traore, who played for Chelsea's youth team as a 16-year-old. Traore now plays for Lyon.
"We welcome the fact that FIFA has accepted that there was no breach in relation to 63 of (the players under investigation), but the club is extremely disappointed that FIFA has not accepted the club's submissions in relation to the remaining 29 players," Chelsea said in a statement. "Chelsea FC acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will shortly be submitting its appeal to FIFA."
Chelsea can defer to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if FIFA's Appeal Committee fails to overturn the initial ruling. Depending on the length of the appeals process, Chelsea could delay the start of the ban until after the upcoming summer transfer window.
The embargo wouldn't prevent Chelsea from selling players. Eden Hazard has continually stoked rumors of a move to Madrid, while youth product Callum Hudson-Odoi's future remains unclear.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid each received sanctions in 2016 for similar breaches. Real saw their ban reduced upon appeal, but Atletico were forced to serve the ban over two windows.