CHELSEA FACE TRANSFER BAN
FIFA set to act over Traore and look at other top-flight clubs
Chelsea face the threat of a two-year transfer ban following a long FIFa investigation into the signing of Bertrand Traore.
Officers from FIFa’s Integrity and Compliance unit have spent three years delving into the Traore case and 13 other transfers involving the london club and players aged under 18. according to French online news site
Mediapart, one of the organisations publishing the findings of Football leaks, the unit recommends Chelsea are punished with a fine of £45,000 and an embargo on all signings to cover a total of four transfer windows. One window relates to Traore and the remaining three windows to cases involving the 13 other alleged offences.
FIFa are investigating other Premier league clubs for similar breaches.
Burkina Faso international Traore signed his first professional contract in september 2013 after his
18th birthday. He was registered in the January 2014 transfer window. Revelations by Mediapart, however, claim FIFA found evidence to suggest Chelsea misled them over the real dates and acted in bad faith. Traore (right) had played for Chelsea at 16 in an Under-18 match against Arsenal. The club also admitted they paid his mother £155,000 in April 2011 to acquire a first-refusal option to sign him. A further £13,000 was paid to the club AJE Bobo-Dioulasso, chaired by Traore’s mother. It was claimed the deal was an option for four and a half years when the limit for players under 18 is three years. Chelsea last night said: ‘The club has fully co-operated with FIFA and has provided comprehensive evidence demonstrating compliance with FIFA regulations. We will not comment further.’ A FIFA spokesman said: ‘Investigations were opened concerning Chelsea as well as other English clubs.’ Meanwhile, Chelsea will consider loan offers for Gary Cahill, 32, in January.