Blues to contest FIFA's transfer ban appeal decision by going to Court of Arbitration

Chelsea will contest the decision by FIFA to uphold the double transfer ban imposed on it.

It said: "Chelsea FC has today received the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee.'

"The Club notes that the FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to partially uphold the appeal lodged by Chelsea FC against the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

However, 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).

The Blues can’t as it stands now sign senior players in the summer transfer window, which begins on June 11 in England, and the January window. It does not affect the women’s side of the club nor it’s Futsal operation.

FIFA said:“The FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to partially uphold the appeal lodged by Chelsea FC against the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to sanction the club with a ban on registering new players at both national and international level for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods.

“This ban applied to the club as a whole – with the exception of the women’s and futsal teams – and did not prevent the release of players.

“With respect to all men’s teams, the ban on registering new players, both nationally and internationally for two registration periods, has been confirmed by the FIFA Appeal Committee, with the following exception: The FIFA Appeal Committee believes that Chelsea’s wrongdoing consisted in not respecting the prohibition from internationally transferring or registering for the first time foreign minor players.

“In the committee’s opinion, imposing a ban on registering each and every minor would not be proportionate to the offence committed. “Consequently, the FIFA Appeal Committee decided that, as far as youth categories are concerned, the ban shall not cover the registration of minor players under the age of 16 who do not fall under the scope of article 19 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which refers to international transfers and first registrations of foreign minor players.

Additionally, the FIFA Appeal Committee confirmed the fine of CHF 600,000.