1. FC Köln has a problem: the world football association has imposed a one-year transfer ban on the club. In the next two transfer periods in summer 2023 and January 2024, the club is not allowed to sign any new players. The reason: The Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana accuses Cologne of inciting a youth player to breach a contract. In its verdict, the Fifa Chamber fully followed the arguments of the plaintiff Slovene. Cologne’s managing director Christian Keller announced that the club will appeal the verdict to the International Sports Court Cas next week.
If the transfer ban were to last, it would be a disaster for the Bundesliga club. Last season, coach Steffen Baumgart’s team made it to seventh place and qualified for the Conference League. In the past five games of the current season, the Cologne team has not won and only drawn one. The team is in danger of slipping into the relegation battle. A transfer ban could accelerate the negative development.
Even more serious is the fact that the personnel situation cannot be corrected. Seven license player contracts expire. Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri is definitely about to drop out, at least that has been the case so far. The future of captain Jonas Hector would also be uncertain. In any case, the club would be dependent on the players agreeing to a contract extension. The association thus becomes a petitioner. But does a professional stay with a club that is struggling with massive disadvantages?
Then there is the case of Leart Paqarada, who has already been signed by FC St. Pauli for the coming season. “He has signed an employment contract from July 1st. If the verdict stays the same, he would not get the right to play for FC,” said managing director Christian Keller. In Hamburg there is already speculation that the full-back will stay. Paqarada would have to agree with Cologne.
In addition, it is not clear what the penalty means in relation to players on loan and on loan. “If the Fifa verdict is upheld, we need a plan B,” said the FC managing director. “It will certainly be difficult for a player to sign a contract here. I wouldn’t do that as a player either,” said Keller. He called FIFA’s verdict “absurd”.
In January 2022, Cologne signed the now 17-year-old striker Jaka Cuber Potocnik from Olimpija Ljubljana on a free transfer. A day earlier, Potocnik had unilaterally terminated his contract with Ljubljana because the Slovenian club allegedly committed “numerous breaches of contract”. “The player signed a contract in June 2021 with various promises, including being allowed to train with the first men’s team. This was demonstrably not kept. According to the player, other promises are also said to have turned out to be empty promises (…)” ,. explained FC Managing Director Christian Keller.
The problem for Cologne is that the three Fifa judges did not follow the arguments of the people of Cologne, despite testimonies and emails. The alleged breach of trust was not sufficiently documented. The judges followed Olimpija Ljubljana’s arguments, according to which Cologne instigated the player to breach the contract. Potocnik was also fined: he was banned for four months and has to pay Olimpija €51,750.
Internationally, Fifa has repeatedly imposed transfer bans on clubs in recent years. Chelsea FC have been banned for two transfer periods for breaching rules when signing underage players. Manchester City have been fined around €370,000 for similar breaches. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid were also fined.
That is hard to say. The three FIFA judges are experienced. It’s hard to believe they came up with a verdict that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. But in almost all other known cases, convicted clubs have at least achieved a reduction in the sentence. Olympique Marseille are currently trying to appeal against a suspension over the modalities of signing player Pape Gueye. So the best hope for 1. FC Köln is that the penalty will be reduced to one transfer window.
Sources: DPA, “Sportschau”
