Manchester City avoid transfer ban after paying £315,000 fine

"International transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18." Manchester City have argued that all the breaches, which were committed before December 2016, occurred because of "misinterpretation of the regulations in question," states Article 19. City have said that the rule breach was based on players who were on trial and their participation in the friendly matches and that the club had been "fully compliant" of all FIFA rules and have "cooperated fully" with Fifa's investigation.

"The Fifa disciplinary committee has sanctioned English club Manchester City FC for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18. Manchester City FC was found to have breached, among others, article 19 of the Fifa Regulations on the status and transfer of players. The disciplinary committee took into account the fact that Manchester City FC accepted its responsibility and sanctioned the club with a fine of CHF 370,000," FIFA, the world’s football governing body stated. "

In its response, the Manchester based club has said, "The club accepts responsibility for the breaches which arose as a result of misinterpretation of the regulations in question."  

Europa League champions Chelsea have been banned from signing players for a similar incident, in which the club signed 29 youth players, but the club is taking steps in order to overturn the ruling. The London based club has now taken its issue to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after failing in their first appeal to FIFA.