Western United banned by FIFA from registering new players until 2027

An A-League club’s hopes of bringing new players in has been dealt a severe blow by a FIFA ban.

A-League club Western United has been banned by FIFA from registering new players in the next three transfer windows.

United has been place on FIFA’s registration ban list, a sanction that temporarily prohibits clubs from registering new players due to “various infractions, such as financial disputes or regulatory breaches”.

“Serving as an essential tool for member associations, confederations, clubs, players and agents, the … ban list helps ensure transparency and compliance within the sport, allowing stakeholders to stay informed about which clubs are ineligible to sign new players during the ban period,” the FIFA website says.

The reason for United’s sanction remains unconfirmed; however, the club was recently late on the payment of player wages. All payments are now up to date.

An artist's impression of the proposed 15,000 seat stadium for Western United. Picture: Supplied/ Wyndham City Council

“We are aware of one outstanding matter, and we have already put steps in place to resolve this as soon as possible,” a Western United spokesman said.

Should the length of the ban remain, United will be prevented the from registering new players until the 2027 January-February transfer window.

United’s financial situation is set to improve, with an announcement expected as early as Friday that the club’s owners, the financially embattled Western Melbourne Group, have been bought out by an American consortium for $70m, a fee that includes the building of a new 15.000-seat stadium at United’s base in the western Melbourne suburb of Tarneit.

United, who remain a chance to play in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite competition, host Auckland FC at Ironbark Fields on Saturday in the final round of the A-League’s regular season.

Originally published as Western United banned by FIFA from registering new players until 2027