FIFA has banned Al-Nassr from registering new players.FIFA has Banned Cristiano Ronaldo’s AlNassr from registering any new players. The violations that resulted in the ban was the inability to pay Leicester City £390,000 in add-ons for the 2018 signing of Ahmed Musa by the Saudi club.
Explanation of Al-Nassr New Player register restriction:
Al Nassr is a Saudi Arabian football club that has been banned by FIFA from registering new players until they settle a debt with Leicester City. The ban was imposed in July 2023, following a ruling by a FIFA-appointed judge at the Players’ status committee.
The debt stems from the sale of Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa to Al Nassr in 2018. Leicester was due to receive additional clauses as part of the deal, but these were not paid. Leicester filed a complaint with FIFA in April 2021, and the judge ruled in their favor in October 2021.
Al Nassr has been ordered to pay Leicester €460,000 ($513,000) plus annual interest of 5%. The club has until July 2024 to pay the debt, or the ban will be extended.
The ban on registering new players is a significant blow to Al Nassr, who is one of the richest clubs in the Saudi Arabian Pro League. The club has been active in the transfer market in recent years, and the ban will prevent them from strengthening their squad.
It is unclear how long the ban will last. If Al Nassr fails to pay the debt by July 2024, the ban could be extended for a further three transfer windows. This would mean that the club would be unable to sign any new players until July 2027.
The ban is a reminder of the importance of financial fair play in football. Clubs that fail to meet their financial obligations can face serious consequences, including bans from registering new players.
