Chelsea
will take their appeal against a two-window transfer ban to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport after it was rejected by FIFA.
Football's world governing body have upheld the ban they handed Chelsea in
February after an investigation into the club's signing of foreign U18
players.
The rules state no player under 18 is allowed to move to a club in a
different country unless their parents are moving there for non-footballing
reasons, or unless they are aged 16-18 and moving within the European
Economic Area.
As it stands, Chelsea can still buy players but would not be able to
register them until the summer of 2020.
However, the club maintained its innocence and stated they will exercise the
option to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to see if the
ruling can be overturned or frozen.
"Chelsea FC has today received the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee,"
said Chelsea in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. "The club is very
disappointed that the transfer ban of two consecutive registration periods
was not overturned.
"Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Appeal Committee.
It acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will appeal the
decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)."
Chelsea's last purchase, Christian Pulisic, will not be affected as he was
registered by the club in January and loaned back to Borussia Dortmund, but
permanent moves for loan signings Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain are not
possible at this stage.
The Appeal Committee determined the ban will only apply to the senior team
and players under the age of 16 and from the UK can still be acquired by
Chelsea.
The ban will also not apply to Chelsea Women or Futsal team.
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