Chelsea’s troubles seemed to be eased by the 3-0 win over Malmo after a run of poor results but a shocking ban by FIFA got tribulations from worse to worst.
The governing body has banned Chelsea from signing new players in the next two transfer windows after breaching rules relating to the registration of players under 18, football’s governing body has confirmed.
The Premier League club have also been fined more than £460,000, while the FA face a £390,000 sanction.
Chelsea have been given 90 days to rectify the situation concerning the players signed.
An official statement released on Friday reads:
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the English club Chelsea FC and The Football Association for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.
“Chelsea was found to have breached art. 19 of the Regulations in the case of twenty-nine (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.
“The Disciplinary Committee sanctioned Chelsea with a ban on registering new players at both national and international level for the next two (2) complete and consecutive registration periods. This ban applies to the club as a whole – with the exception of the women’s and futsal teams – and does not prevent the release of players.
“Additionally, the club was fined CHF 600,000 and given a period of 90 days to regularise the situation of the minor players concerned.”
In addition to Chelsea, the English FA have also been sanctioned, although both parties will be able to contest the decision with FIFA’s Appeal Committee.
“The Football Association was also found to have breached the rules in connection with minors,” the statement continues. “It was fined CHF 510,000 and given a period of six months to address the situation concerning the international transfer and first registration of minors in football.
“The protection of minors is a key element in FIFA’s overall regulatory framework relating to the transfer of players and effective enforcement of these rules is paramount, as also confirmed on various occasions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“The decisions issued by the Disciplinary Committee were notified today and can be contested before the FIFA Appeal Committee.”
The signing of Christian Pulisic – who will link up with his new team at the end of the season – will go some way to easing the Blues’ concerns, but with Eden Hazard’s future up in the air the news will be far from welcome at Stamford Bridge.