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Chelsea\u2019s appeal against its two-window transfer ban for signing underage players has been broadly rejected by FIFA, world football\u2019s governing body has announced.<\/p>\nChelsea\u2019s appeal against its two-window transfer ban for signing underage players has been broadly rejected by FIFA, world football\u2019s governing body has announced.<\/p>\n
The Premier League club were given the sanction, which runs until July 2020, in February and were also fined \u00a3460,000 for 29 breaches of the rules on the international transfer of minors.<\/p>\n
Chelsea immediately lodged an appeal and the case was heard by FIFA\u2019s appeal committee last month.<\/p>\n
In a statement, FIFA said it has \u201cpartially upheld\u201d the appeal, but only in the sense that Chelsea will now be allowed to sign players aged under 16, providing they come from within the European Economic Area.<\/p>\n
The ban on signing over-16s remains in place, as does the fine.<\/p>\n
Cross-border transfers of players aged under 18 are banned unless there are specific, non-football reasons for the player moving to the relevant country.<\/p>\n
FIFA initially investigated more than 100 cases involving Chelsea, going back several years, but only charged the Blues with 92 breaches of article 19 \u2013 the rule prohibiting the registration of minors \u2013 and other charges related to the club having third-party influence over other club\u2019s players.<\/p>\n
Chelsea successfully defended themselves in 63 of these cases at a disciplinary committee but were found guilty of 29 illegal transfers.<\/p>\n
The Stamford Bridge outfit were given 90 days to \u201cregularize the situation of the minor players
\nconcerned\u201d and the Football Association was also fined \u00a3390,000 for letting Chelsea register these players.<\/p>\n
La Liga clubs Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all been sanctioned for similar offences in the past.<\/p>\n