FIFA says Chelsea has received written reasons from its disciplinary panel for the one-year ban, and why a request to freeze the ban during the appeal process was rejected. FIFA will hear Chelsea’s appeal against a one-year transfer ban on April 11.
First of all Chelsea deny any wrongdoing and are appealing the decision. But Fifa have found them guilty of contravening Article 19 of their rules which bans the transfer of under-18s from one country to another unless strict criteria are met. The rules were largely brought in to help protect children from exploitation and trafficking. There are also breaches of Article 18bis – which concerns third-party ownership – around two of the players.
Fifa say the breaches cover 29 players. But Chelsea have confirmed that they were originally charged with breaches of the rules around 92 players. They did not sign all the players. The large majority, in fact, were just on trial at their academy and Chelsea also argue that there is no law against trialling under-18 international players.
Fifa bans the transfer of under-18s to different countries unless a) the player’s parents move to the country in which the new club is located for non-footballing reasons, b) both clubs are in the European Union or European Economic Area and the player is aged between 16 and 18. Even then, the buying club must meet more criteria relating to education, training, living conditions and support, and c) they live within 100km of the club.
Chelsea cannot register players in the next two transfer windows ie. this summer and next January, so the whole of the 2019-20 season. It does not actually stop them buying players. But because the players cannot be registered they cannot play – as Barcelona did in buying Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal in 2015 while under a transfer embargo. But very few players will agree to this.
Chelsea can sell players and can also recall players from loan. The only exception is the Chelsea’s women’s team and the futsal team who can trade as normal. Chelsea must also pay a fine of £460,000 and have 90 days to “regularise the situation of the minor players concerned” which may involve forcing them to move on anyone brought to the club in contravention of the rules.
Chelsea can approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport for an interim ruling halting the sanction pending the appeal to FIFA. CAS says Chelsea has not applied for such a provisional measure.FIFA banned Chelsea in February from registering new players for two transfer periods — after this season and in January 2020 — for breaking rules protecting teenage players. The club denies wrongdoing. FIFA says Chelsea violated rules in 29 cases, and imposed a fine of 600,000 Swiss francs ($600,000).