By Mark Baber
September 20 – FIFA have confirmed they are investigating Chelsea for third time in eight years over possible breaches of regulations around signing youth players. Chelsea deny any wrongdoing.
FIFA’s inquiry is into Chelsea’s signing of foreign players under the age 18, with a FIFA spokesman saying: “As the investigation is on-going no further comment is possible for the time being.”
FIFA banned the London club from signing players for two transfer windows in September 2009 due to Gael Kakuta’s 2007 move from Lens, a decision which Chelsea successfully appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Atletico Madrid are currently under a FIFA transfer ban after their appeal to CAS failed.
Both Liverpool and Manchester City are currently banned by the Premier League from signing academy players after contacting parents too early in the recruitment process and offering prohibited inducements respectively.
A Chelsea spokesman said: “Chelsea FC complies with all FIFA Statutes and Regulations when recruiting players.”
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