Hyderabad FC receive national transfer ban from FIFA

The news comes as a setback for the Nizams who are soon participating in the ISL playoffs.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Hyderabad FC have received a national transfer ban from FIFA. The club has been handed it on the registration of new players. For the foreseeable future, the winners of the 2021-22 ISL Trophy cannot register new players into the squad.

As per the reports, the national transfer ban is effective immediately. The global governing body for football, FIFA, through its Player Status Department has sent a notification to the club informing them of the ban. The ban however, was in place from November 2022, due to a contract dispute with Spanish player Nestor Jesus Gordillo (though the name wasn't taken directly, but as per The Times of India it was this same player).

A FIFA spokesperson informed TOI, “We can confirm that the club Hyderabad FC is currently serving a ban from registering new players at national and international level based on the decision passed by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on February 26, 2021, and the subsequent award rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on September 21, 2022."

"In accordance with the relevant decisions and the applicable provisions of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, the registration ban has been implemented in November 2022 and shall be served up until the amount due is paid to the relevant creditor and for the maximum duration of three entire and consecutive registration periods," said the spokesperson.

Hyderabad FC are one of the Indian clubs that give its young Indian players a lot of game-time. Individuals such as Chinglensana Singh, Akash Mishra, Asish Rai, Rohit Danu and more have developed brilliantly while playing for the club. A national transfer ban could put an end to this tradition.

A predicament

Hyderabad FC are enjoying a superb ISL 2022-23 season. The Nizams have earned a direct semi-final berth after securing the second spot in the points table behind ISL League Winner’s Shield triumphant Mumbai City FC. It will be an incredible feat if Hyderabad FC are able to defend its title by winning the contest two editions in a row. 

Manolo Marquez’s men won the ISL Trophy last season by defeating Kerala Blasters in the final on penalties. It was the club’s first major trophy and one that was extremely motivating to the younger players in the squad.

Moving forward, Hyderabad FC will not be able to register any new players to their team. More details regarding the same are awaited currently. It is worth noting that another ISL outfit received a transfer ban earlier in 2023. East Bengal was handed a registration ban by FIFA over non-payment of dues to Omid Singh.

It is a first for Hyderabad FC in their rather brief history. One would expect the club authorities to rectify any violations from their end and plead their case to FIFA in order to overturn the ban. The inability to register new players could be detrimental to Hyderabad FC’s plans ahead of the next season.