Chelsea say goodbye to future two transfer windows

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Europe

The world soccer governing body FIFA on Friday has issued a ban on Chelsea from signing players in the next two transfer windows, citing regulation violations over the transfer of youth players.

The sanction comes after an investigation conducted by the FIFA into the Blues' signing of foreign players under the age of 18.

"The FIFA disciplinary committee has sanctioned the English club Chelsea FC and The Football Association for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18," FIFA said in a statement.

"Chelsea was found to have breached art. 19 of the Regulations in the case of twenty-nine (29) minor players and to have committed several other infringements relating to registration requirements for players.

"The club also breached art. 18bis of the Regulations in connection with two agreements it concluded concerning minors and which allowed it to influence other clubs in transfer-related matters.

In the next two complete and consecutive registration periods, the sanction involves banned signing neither national nor international players, but it does not relate to the release of players. Also, it does not apply to women's and futsal teams.

The London-based club was fined 600,000 Swiss francs (599,560 U.S. dollars), and England's soccer governing body Football Association was fined 510,000 Swiss francs (509, 626 U.S. dollars) as well.