22 Feb FIFA hit Chelsea with transfer ban

Premier League club Chelsea has been banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows.

FIFA announced on Friday that the Blues had breached rules on registering 29 under-age players, meaning they are unable to make any signings until next January.

They were also fined €530,000 ($600,000) and were given 90 days to rectify the irregularities.

The decision to ban the west Londoners comes after an investigation by FIFA into their signing of former forward Bertrand Traore.

Traore, 18, was signed in October 2013, but wasn’t registered until January the following year.

“The disciplinary committee sanctioned Chelsea with a ban on registering new players at both national and international level for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods,” FIFA said in a statement.

Chelsea released the following statement, confirming they will be appealing FIFA’s decision.

“Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA disciplinary committee and will therefore be appealing the decision,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“Initially, Chelsea FC was charged under Articles 19.1 and 19.3 in relation to 92 players. We welcome the fact that FIFA has accepted that there was no breach in relation to 63 of these players, but the club is extremely disappointed that FIFA has not accepted the club’s submissions in relation to the remaining 29 players.”

Maurizio Sarri’s side are sixth in the Premier League and face Manchester City in Sunday’s League Cup final at Wembley.