FIFA Denies Chelsea's Request

Chelsea’s request to "freeze" its one-year transfer ban while it challenges the punishment was rejected by FIFA on Friday. The club could now ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport to "grant an interim ruling," which would allow players to be signed this summer. In previous similar cases involving La Liga clubs Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, FIFA granted provisional measures which "meant transfer bans were not enforced during the appeal process." Barcelona "successfully froze" its April '14 ban and used the following offseason to "sign a slew of players." Friday's ruling "could mean there has been a change of philosophy" at FIFA with new senior lawyers and a different appeals chair (AP, 3/8). 

Chelsea said in a statement, "Chelsea Football Club is astonished by the Fifa Appeal Committee’s decision. ... As a matter of procedural fairness and equality of treatment, and Swiss law, the club’s right to an appeal process must be afforded" (London TELEGRAPH, 3/8).