Chelsea stunned as Fifa reject bid to freeze transfer ban
LONDON: Chelsea have accused Fifa of ‘astonishing’ double standards after the governing body denied their request to freeze the club’s transfer ban.
The club are now preparing legal proceedings against Fifa through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
It was announced last month that Chelsea will be banned from registering new players for two transfer windows until January next year after the club were deemed to have breached rules regarding the signing of overseas players under the age of 18.
A Fifa investigation cited breaches in 29 of the 92 cases they studied involving Chelsea, with forward Bertrand Traore, now at Lyon, the most widely suspected transfer.
Chelsea were fined £460,000 (RM2.4 million) and the FA £390,000 for their part in overseeing the transfers.
Chelsea deny wrongdoing and have appealed. They hoped Fifa would follow precedents set for Spanish clubs. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all received transfer bans.
Barcelona were granted a year during the appeal process, in which they signed Ivan Rakitic. Chelsea therefore expected to be able to buy players in this summer’s window but Fifa have a new head of their appeals committee and the club now face the scenario of being unable to sign anybody next season.
The problem is compounded by the desire of Eden Hazard (below) and Callum Hudson-Odoi to leave. Both have contracts that are due to expire in 2020 and should the club force them to stay for another year, they could go for nothing in 15 months.
Meanwhile, Willian admits every game is a “final” for Chelsea as they aim to boost their bid for a top four finish.
Maurizio Sarri’s side have 10 Premier League matches left to overhaul fourth placed Manchester United, who are currently two points ahead of the sixth placed Blues.
Chelsea have a game in hand on United and fifth placed Arsenal and could also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
But sterner tests lie in wait in Europe, while the top four race is so tight that any slip-up could be decisive.
As Brazil winger Willian acknowledges, Chelsea have no margin for error when Wolves arrive at Stamford Bridge today.
“Now is the moment we have to win every game,” Willian said. “Every game is a final for us now and we have to go well in every game.”
Chelsea failed to qualify for the Champions League last season under Sarri’s predecessor Antonio Conte following a fifth-placed finish which led to his sacking.
Wolves memorably beat Chelsea 2-1 in December and have lost just four times in their 18 games in all competition since then.