Following a dispute with former Premier League winners Leicester, FIFA reportedly barred Saudi football club Al-Nassr from signing any new players. Al-Nassr earlier this year signed Cristiano Ronaldo in a world record deal. The former Manchester United forward was acquired by the nine-time Saudi champions, making them one of the few groups to sign a prominent figure in world football. Ronaldo makes £173 million a year in the oil-producing nation, and his entrance sparked a star player inflow in Saudi Arabia.
But following the transfer of Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa from Leicester City FC to Al Nassr, FIFA banned the Saudi team from registering new players after their failure to pay add-ons, relating to Ahmed Musa transfer, to the Foxes.
The ex-CSKA Moscow forward joined Leicester City FC in 2016, but he had limited success in England. He managed just five goals in 33 games for the the English team. In 2018, he was subsequently sold to Al-Nassr for a sum estimated to be over £14 million.
The Saudi team allegedly failed to pay €460k (£390k) plus interest for performance-related add-ons, according to a FIFA official judgement. Al-Nassr was initially informed of the judgement in October 2021, and was warned that if they failed to make good on their obligation to pay Leicester, a transfer registration block would be enforced.
Al-Nassr was initially informed of the judgement in October 2021, and was warned that if they failed to make good on their obligation to pay Leicester, a transfer registration block would be enforced. They are now thought to have disobeyed the order and been given a registration ban as a result. That means stars from other countries cannot yet be registered because it applies to both domestic and foreign transfers.
According to FIFA's original rule, the ban would apply to three whole and consecutive registration periods - transfer windows. Al-Nassr was also told that if Leicester had not paid by the end of the ban, the subject would be brought before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.