The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has given its verdict on Chelsea’s transfer ban after the London club appealed.
Back in February, FIFA investigated Chelsea’s transfer dealings over the years and they were found guilty by the disciplinary committee for breaching regulations relating to the recruitment of minors.
Chelsea FC where then handed a ban from FIFA on signing new players into their mens team for the next two transfer windows.
Chelsea however denied commiting the offence and then appealed.
On Wednesday, the governing body of world soccer replied the appeal and announced that its appeal committee had “decided to partially uphold the appeal”.
The committee lifted part of the ban, and according to the new twist Chelsea can only sign players under 16 who are not “international transfers and first registrations of foreign minor players”.
Now, this a big problem for Chelsea because they and their fans are eager to have the ban lifted, or suspended pending the appeal, so they could be in a position to sign a replacement for Belgium Eden Hazard, who is being touted as a possible £100 million (116 million euros, $131 million) transfer target for Real Madrid.