Chelsea have been banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows after an investigation from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee found the guilty of breaching rules in relation to the international transfers of players under the age of 18.
According to the official FIFA statement:
“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 club have also been fined £400k for this transfer misdemeanor and they also have 90 days to sort out the situation regarding those players concerned. Bertrand Traore who signed for Chelsea in 2013 is thought to be one of major players in this debacle, with the signing of many other minors being scrutinised.
This puts Chelsea in an incredibly difficult situation regarding signing players but some fans believe it could be a chance for the club to finally put their faith in some of the young players at the club. Players like Callum Hudson-Odoi have not been given a chance in the league this season but this ban could force the club to rethink the way they handle young players.
It may also mean they sell some of the youth players and senior pros they have at the club, as they look to format a nucleus of quality players they can trust, rather than the mess Maurizio Sarri finds himself in charge of at the moment.
This decision can be contested before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
