Chelsea faces transfer sanction over signing of Bertrand Traore

FIFA noticed Chelsea's signing of Bertrand Traore after he played against Arsenal for the Under 18s in 2011

Premier League club Chelsea are facing a transfer ban over alleged irregularities in their signing of Burkina Faso young midfielder Bertrand Traore.

Traore joined Chelsea from Auxerre when he was 16 and this was before he got his international clearance according to allegation.

International regulations states that a player under the age of 18 can only be signed unless strict criteria are met.

Players can only move to another country if their parents move for ‘non-footballing reasons’, if they are from another EU nation or if they live within 100 kilometres of the club.

FIFA just noticed the player from photos of him representing Chelsea in an Under 18s clash against Arsenal in October 2011.

The midfielder’s name in on the teamsheet for that clash with Chelsea which can be found on their official website but the club believed they had permission from the Premier League and the FA to field Traore.

The champions are now under investigation by FIFA’s disciplinary chamber.

If they are found quilty, they face a transfer ban like that handed to Barcelona and Real Madrid.

A Chelsea statement on Tuesday night denied any wrongdoing.

“Bertrand Traore was registered by Chelsea in January 2014 in compliance with FA and Premier League rules,” the statement read. 

Bertrand Traore has been promoted to Chelsea's first team 

“Prior to that date, he was party to an option agreement which enabled the club to acquire his registration in January 2014. The option agreement was registered with, and approved by, the FA and the Premier League.”

Chelsea have been given a transfer ban before-for two windows in September 2009- for their illegal signing of Gael Kakuta from Lens in 2007.

The ban was however cancelled after a successfully appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.