Spezia, Fifa: two years of stop on the market for irregularities on minors

The measure decided by the disciplinary commission for infractions on international transfer and registration of players under 18. For the Ligurians there is also a fine of 500,000 Swiss francs (over 460,000 euros). The club in a note: findings relating to the previous management, we will defend ourselves

Knockout by the Fifa Disciplinary Commission for Spezia Calcio: 2-year stop at the market, starting from January, and maxi fine for infractions on international transfers and the registration of players under 18.

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The note

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“Following an investigation carried out by the FIFA Regulatory Execution Department – reads a note – the Disciplinary Commission of the highest football body found that the La Spezia club has violated art. 19 of the FIFA Regulations on status and transfer of players (RSTP) having brought several Nigerian underage players to Italy using a system aimed at circumventing the aforementioned RSTP article in addition to national immigration rules. “

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“Club Admission”

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“Taking into account – it continues – the admission of responsibility of Spezia Calcio for its serious regulatory violations, the Fifa Disciplinary Commission has imposed a block on the market, nationally and internationally, for four sessions together with a fine of 500 thousand Swiss francs “.

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The other companies involved

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“La Spezia Calcio, therefore – concludes the note -, will not be able to register new players for the following four market registration periods established by the Italian Football Federation. The Disciplinary Commission of FIFA has also imposed a block on the market, at national and international, for four registration periods and a fine of CHF 4,000 against USD Lavagnese 1919 and Valdivara 5 Terre, as these two clubs played an active role in the aforementioned system. The protection of minors is a key objective of the regulatory framework which regulates the transfer system of players and the effective application of these rules is essential to ensure the protection of the well-being of minors on all occasions. The three football clubs were informed today of the decision of the Fifa Disciplinary Commission “.

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Lo Spezia: “Surprised and disappointed”

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La Spezia has recently published a note on its channels in which it confirms that it “received today the notification of FIFA’s decision to apply a transfer ban for four transfer windows starting from January 2022. The Club is surprised and extremely disappointed. from this ruling and wishes to clarify the following: – The alleged irregularities attributed to Spezia Calcio occurred in the period between 2013 and 2018, therefore under the previous administration of the club. – All members of the previous ownership and of the belonging management team to it, they currently do not hold positions of responsibility within the club “.

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“The penalty is too hard, we have nothing to do with it”

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It is not enough, the defense of the Ligurians continues clearly: “When the new owner group – we read – acquired Spezia Calcio, in February 2021, the FIFA investigation was not adequately exposed. The Club was informed only in April and took immediate action to conduct an internal audit of these allegations, to show that the irregularities do not concern the current ownership. The Club finds the penalty to be excessively harsh, a penalty that punishes a new administration that has not had any involvement in the alleged alleged irregularities; – The Club intends to take legal action to appeal this ruling and clearly demonstrate that there is no correlation between the current ownership and this case, of which Spezia Calcio is accused. The sanction will not affect the current summer transfer window, so the club is free to operate without restrictions. – The club respects the importance of the work undertaken by the to FIFA in relation to the protection of minors and will fully cooperate in any further investigation that may be launched “.

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Platek: “We will appeal”

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In the press release, the words of Spezia Calcio president Philip Raymond Platek Jr: “We are surprised by FIFA’s decision to impose this heavy transfer ban on our club. The new ownership had no role in the alleged transgressions attributed to Spezia Calcio and strongly condemns any system that includes the unlawful transfer of minors. I cannot comment further on the matter due to the ongoing legal proceedings, but I would like to reassure our fans, stating that we will appeal this ruling and take appropriate measures to ensure that our team remains competitive in the years to come “.

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