ZURICH/BRUSSELS: Record Belgian champions Anderlecht have escaped the threat of a transfer ban after being found guilty of breaching FIFA regulations over the signing of under-18 youth players writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The world football federation also punished the Belgian FA football for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of such players.

English Premier League club Chelsea are challenging a transfer ban over the signing of youth players. Previously Spanish clubs Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid had all been similarly disciplined.

A FIFA statement said:

Anderlecht was found to have breached, amongst others, article 19 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players in the case of four minor players.

The Disciplinary Committee took into account the cooperation of the club and sanctioned RSC Anderlecht with a fine of CHF 200,000.

The Belgian Football Association was also found to have breached the rules in connection with minors and was therefore sanctioned with a fine of CHF 230,000.

The protection of minors is a key element in FIFA’s overall regulatory framework relating to the transfer of players, and the effective enforcement of these rules is paramount, as has also been confirmed on various occasions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The decisions issued by the Disciplinary Committee were notified today and can be contested before the FIFA Appeal Committee.

#################