Chelsea have been given a transfer ban for two windows by FIFA, and it’s the talk of the footballing world this morning.
Some people are pointing out that, given the Blues have confirmed they are appealing the ban, they will still be able to sign players this summer.
The ban may even be reduced or cancelled completely.
But others have pointed out that even being able to sign players this summer won’t help too much, as every other team will know they are in a weak position.
Fans on social media have spent the morning debating the potential ramifications, and we collected some of their chatter.
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You can see a selection of the reaction here:
even if #cfc's appeal means they delay transfer ban by a window or two, it leaves them in a weak bargaining position with any selling club. Everyone knows they'll be desperate to recruit and will demand higher fees accordingly.
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) February 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/mixedknuts/status/1098887452880715776
Maybe we can get the transfer ban backdated and give back all the players we signed in the 2017/18 season?
— Kenneth (@NiceGuyKenny) February 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/charlieskillen/status/1098913537051840513
Going to be a busy summer… pic.twitter.com/HSvPaNOyig
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) February 22, 2019
– Lost interest since 2012.
– Failed to abide by UEFA rules on signing youth players AGAIN after already being punished for Kakuta.
– Backs players who don’t want to be / deserve to be at Chelsea.
– Sacks managers after mistakes, but not Marina.We know who’s to blame.
— CFChris. (@EmenaIo) February 22, 2019
Granovaskaia running the club into the ground. #MarinaOut
— CFChris. (@EmenaIo) February 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/CarefreeYouth/status/1098918549542834178
https://twitter.com/FutbolCheIsea/status/1098921724194836480
#Chelsea have today been issues with a transfer ban.
Long summer ahead for the Blues.
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) February 22, 2019
This is what infuriates me, and it happens so often in all areas of the pitch, no wonder Sarri needs a smoke. Kovacic looking for return to progress up the field but Kanté would rather go back smh
Excuse the quality of video, smudgy lens! pic.twitter.com/q8ArovDpRb
— Izzo (@izzdashizzz) February 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/jamiew_tc/status/1098925119995547652
And then came the transfer ban, Circus Football Club… https://t.co/EL3n4OkVQa
— TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK) February 22, 2019
We're going to struggle now, we're already bad enough at transfers as we're always reluctant to signing the top players for the big prices… but now clubs are only going to ask for more knowing the position we're in.
— TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK) February 22, 2019