Athletic listed on FIFA registration bans, could face three-window block on signings | OneFootball

FIFA has placed Athletic Club on its official ‘Registration Bans’ platform, a listing that entails a three-window bar on registering players that would run until January 2028.

The club has appeared on the list since Wednesday 11 February. The prohibition would cover summer 2026, winter 2027 and summer 2027, and applies to domestic and international registrations at professional and amateur levels. According to Deia, the matter relates to a dispute over a player’s training compensation and there is hope the necessary paperwork can be filed in time to avert the ban.

FIFA has not disclosed specific reasons for the case. The platform notes that such restrictions typically arise from issues like financial disputes or regulatory non-compliance.

At present, Athletic are the only top-flight Spanish club listed. Within the Spanish federation, Algeciras and Vélez also feature.

The platform is automated and updated almost daily, reflecting sanctions stemming from final disciplinary rulings or pending administrative breaches. In January 2025, Rayo Vallecano and Mallorca briefly appeared over solidarity mechanism amounts, regularised their payments and saw the bans lifted within hours.

Athletic have not issued an official communication. If unresolved, being unable to register players across the next three windows would significantly shape the club’s medium-term planning under president Jon Uriarte.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo