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FIFA on Friday handed out a 2 window transfer ban on Chelsea Football Club following reports of misconduct during registration of under-18 footballers. The English Football Association has also been slapped a fine and have been asked to improve its practices.
It has been also reported that Chelsea have been fined due to a breach of regulations during signing of 29 players and also during the registration of the players. The official report said:
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 governing body has thus restricted the London club from any transfer activities for the next 2 transfer windows, which means that Chelsea won't be able to add any players to their kitty until the summer of 2020. The official statement from FIFA read:
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.
The club as well as the English FA was fined and given a time based directive for the next immediate course of action:
Additionally, the club was fined CHF 600,000 and given a period of 90 days to regularise the situation of the minor players concerned.
The Football Association was also found to have breached the rules in connection with minors. 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.
As expected, the news sent a wave of concern around the club and its supporters. There will be no problems in the arrival of Christian Pulisic in the summer, which is a big relief for Chelsea. They also have a lot of players loaned out that they can recall, which is a slight consolation too. However, the ban has ignited the Hazard situation once again - Chelsea cannot buy, but are free to sell.
The Premier League club has decided to appeal the ban, so this saga is far from over. As always, Twitter had some of the best reactions and we have selected some of the top tweets here.
Most people felt that Chelsea would lose some of their best players over the summer...
Some fans were frustrated...
while others tried to look at the bright side..
Some were too optimistic...
While the opposition fans had a field day..
