The world football association FIFA has imposed a transfer ban on Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln. As initially reported by “Bild” and the club later confirmed, the Rhinelanders are not allowed to sign any players in the next two transfer periods.
The background to the harsh penalty is the circumstances surrounding the signing of U19 striker Jaka Cuber Potocnik. The Cologne team had signed the 17-year-old last year and thus caused trouble. Although it was not a transfer for the first team, the ban should still affect the whole club.
According to the verdict, Cologne must also pay 54,000 euros to Potocnik’s former Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana. Young hope Potocnik will also be banned for four months with immediate effect.
The club wants to appeal against the sanctions before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS. FC announced this on Wednesday evening.
1. FC Köln can appeal to Cas
Potocnik prematurely terminated his U17 contract in Ljubljana on January 30, 2022, so FC didn’t have to pay a fee. Just one day later he is said to have signed in the Rhineland.
The Slovenians claimed that Cologne instigated the then 16-year-old Potocnik to switch and defended themselves at FIFA. Originally, the club even wanted a transfer fee of 2.5 million euros and around 70,000 euros in damages.