World football governing body, FIFA has slammed Premier League champions, Manchester City, £315,000 with no transfer ban after the club admitted breaching rules on signing youth players.
FIFA said Man City breached article 19 of its regulations: “International transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18.”
City say the breaches, which all occurred before December 2016, were as a result of “misinterpretation of the regulations in question”.
City said the rule breach was in relation to players on trial and their participation in friendly games, and that the club had been “fully compliant” since. The club also said they “co-operated fully” with FIFA’s investigation.
“The club accepts responsibility for the breaches which arose as a result of misinterpretation of the regulations in question,” a statement from Man City.
In 2018, two players from Ghana’s Right to Dream football academy – Sierra Leone’s George Davies and Ghanaian Dominic Oduro – told Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten that they signed for City and played in youth matches before they turned 18.
“The FIFA disciplinary committee has sanctioned English club Manchester City FC for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18,” FIFA said in a statement.
“Manchester City FC was found to have breached, among others, article 19 of the FIFA Regulations on the status and transfer of players.
“The disciplinary committee took into account the fact that Manchester City FC accepted its responsibility and sanctioned the club with a fine of CHF 370,000.”
Chelsea were banned by FIFA in February for breaching rules in relation to 29 youth players, and were fined £460,000 in addition to their transfer ban.
In June the Blues, who were not allowed to make any signings in the summer transfer window, announced they were taking their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, having failed with their first appeal to FIFA.
In May 2017, Man City were banned from signing academy players for two years and fined £300,000 after breaching Premier League transfer rules.
Manchester City are also being investigated by UEFA for alleged financial fair play violations.
Anthony Nlebem
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