Chelsea appeal Fifa’s transfer ban and case will be heard on April 11
The Blues, who have also been fined £460,000, are banned for breaking the rules on signing minors
CHELSEA will appeal their two-window transfer ban, Fifa have confirmed - with the case to be heard on April 11.
The Blues, who were also fined £460,000, have been blocked from buying players after allegedly breaking rules surrounding the signing of minors.
Chelsea are currently unable to sign ANY players this summer or next January after a Fifa ruling.
The world football governing body said the Premier League club have received written reasons from its disciplinary panel for the ban, as well as why a request to freeze the ban during an appeal process was rejected.
Chelsea could also approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport for an interim ruling that would halt the sanction - pending approval from Fifa - but CAS says the club have not yet made such an application.
Fifa banned Chelsea last month from registering new players for two windows for 29 cases of breaking rules related to teenage players.
Chelsea deny any wrongdoing and hope appealing will at least freeze the ban and allow them to sign players this summer.
Should this hearing again be unsuccessful, the ban will start this summer and Chelsea will not be able to sign anybody at the end of this season or in January 2020.
The ban has sparked massive speculation on the immediate future of the Blues.
Star player Eden Hazard is desperately wanted by Real Madrid and could leave, while loanees Gonzalo Higuain and Mateo Kovacic would not be allowed to join on permanent deals.
Chelsea may decide they cannot afford to sell Hazard if they are unable to bring in a suitable replacement.
Other players, such as Andreas Christensen, will also not be sold.
However, academy players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ethan Ampadu could see more opportunity, as could players out on loan, such as Tammy Abraham.
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The club are also concerned a ban would severely dent their chances of bringing in a suitable manager - should they decide to sack Maurizio Sarri.
The Blues are currently sixth in the Premier League, three points below fourth-placed Arsenal.
Champions League qualification is a must for Sarri.
Chelsea could still qualify if they win Europa League, with the Blues set to face Slavia Prague in the quarter-final on the same day as the appeal, April 11.