“With respect to all men’s teams, the ban on registering new players, both nationally and internationally for two registration periods, has been confirmed by the FIFA Appeal Committee, with the following exception:
“The FIFA Appeal Committee believes that Chelsea’s wrongdoing consisted in not respecting the prohibition from internationally transferring or registering for the first time foreign minor players. In the committee´s opinion, imposing a ban on registering each and every minor would not be proportionate to the offence committed.
OFFICIAL: Chelsea have lost their appeal against FIFA's decision to ban them from signing players during the next two transfer windows. pic.twitter.com/7KvuCkx3Gx
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) May 8, 2019
“Consequently, the FIFA Appeal Committee decided that, as far as youth categories are concerned, the ban shall not cover the registration of minor 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.
“Additionally, the FIFA Appeal Committee confirmed the fine of CHF 600,000. The decision issued by the FIFA Appeal Committee was notified today.”
What can Chelsea do next?
If Chelsea wish to take their appeal process any further, they will have to do so via the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), an independent body which settles sporting issues.
Despite their request for the transfer ban to be frozen while proceedings were ongoing being rejected, Fifa’s quick announcement of their verdict gives Chelsea ample time to go through the Cas before the next transfer window opens.
Will Chelsea’s transfer ban stop Christian Pulisic joining?
Although Chelsea cannot sign any new players for the next two transfer windows, the ban will not stop winger Christian Pulisic joining the club.
The USMNT international’s transfer was completed in the 2019 January window before he was loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of the season.
Given that Eden Hazard may still leave the club with no replacement able to come in, his signing may now prove to be key for Maurizio Sarri ahead of the 2019/20 season.
