So Cardiff are under a transfer embargo according to daily

Sportsmail can reveal that late last month, almost half of the league was subject to a registration ban in a bombshell discovery which has led to claims the integrity of the competition has been seriously undermined.

The clubs in question were Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town, Luton Town, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City.

Sportsmail can reveal that late last month, almost half of the league was subject to a registration ban in a bombshell discovery which has led to claims the integrity of the competition has been seriously undermined.

The clubs in question were Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town, Luton Town, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City.

I thought all ffp was suspended coz of the pandemic?

Ten Championship clubs have been placed under a transfer embargo
Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City are three of the teams in question
Some clubs are believed to be taking the penalty early ahead of the summer
An unnamed official warned that the pandemic will impact sales of players


By MIKE KEEGAN FOR THE DAILY MAIL

PUBLISHED: 22:31 BST, 5 April 2021 | UPDATED: 07:52 BST, 6 April 2021




Ten Championship clubs were placed under transfer embargo at the same time — with concerns growing that some second-tier outfits are facing ‘financial Armageddon’.

Sportsmail can reveal that late last month, almost half of the league was subject to a registration ban in a bombshell discovery which has led to claims the integrity of the competition has been seriously undermined.

The clubs in question were Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town, Luton Town, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City.

Ten Championship clubs were placed under transfer embargo at the same time last month

Wayne Rooney's Derby are one of the ten second tier clubs to have been hit with the ban +3



'Coventry City can confirm that it has been placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL.

'The Government, due to the Coronavirus crisis, allowed companies to extend the deadline to file company accounts by three months and Coventry City chose to take up this option.

'Unfortunately the EFL has decided not to replicate this extension within their own rules, which surprises us as they have amended a number of other rules due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

'Coventry City will be filing their accounts as required by Companies House within three months of the end of February, at which point the transfer embargo from the EFL will be removed.

'This is purely an administrative embargo imposed by the EFL. This has no effect on the day-to-day running of the Club or its finances, and will have no effect on planned transfer activity in the upcoming transfer window.'


Of those, it is understood that Huddersfield have now come off the list, while Stoke are expected soon to follow suit, with both clubs being hit with the penalty thanks to administrative — rather than financial — issues.

However, the shocking size of the group has illustrated the strain clubs are under, thanks in some cases to overspending.

On Tuesday Coventry issued a statement confirming the transfer embargo, while explaining they had take a Government option to file company accounts with a three month delay.

The club outlined that the 'purely administrative embrago' would then be lifted thereafter, and summer plans would not be impacted.

The Covid-19 pandemic, which has removed matchday revenue, has also had a grave impact and there are fears that many in the group will be unable to strengthen their squads for next season.

The EFL declined to comment. A spokesperson said: ‘The league does not confirm the names of clubs placed under registration embargo.’

However, one unnamed official, at a club not on the list, said: ‘This shows you what we are up against.


‘When you have almost half the league under embargo it questions the integrity of the whole competition.

'This isn’t just one or two. Covid has had an impact but you have a lot of clubs spending money they simply don’t have. Financial Armageddon is coming.’

The transfer window does not reopen until the summer. Some believe clubs are taking the penalty now hoping that they will be in a position to trade their way out of embargo when it reopens.



An unnamed source warned of a 'financial armageddon' and said player sales will be impacted

But the official warned that the impact of the pandemic means that selling players to the top flight will be difficult, saying: ‘The Premier League have gone on record to say that Covid will cost £2 billion this season.

‘In the January window, with a couple of exceptions, it was mainly loans. While top players may move, Championship clubs will do well to get decent money for the players they’re already looking at selling.’

Clubs can be forbidden from signing players for a wide range of financial offences.

All of those clubs on the list were approached for comment. No responses were forthcoming.

Sportsmail can reveal that late last month, almost half of the league was subject to a registration ban in a bombshell discovery which has led to claims the integrity of the competition has been seriously undermined.

The clubs in question were Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town, Luton Town, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City.

Yes were placed under it in February, but I never said anything as we were on positive run with Big Mick and hopefully we get it lifted by the Summer.

I got told it was to do with not submitting accounts on time to EFL?? but I am not 100%

Coventry reporting it is for a failure to submit their financial accounts by March, EFl are not allowing a three month extension as per government rules

Yes it was as I said City did not submit their accounts .

BBC Wales news, made a big thing of it tonight.
We don't normally get a, mention.

The goverment have giving companies extra time to submit they're accounts. But the EFL obviously didnt get the memo , its just sabre rattling by the EFL !
The goverment have given extension's on many things because of covid . Its up to the individual companies if they want to take advantage of the loophole or not.
I took advantage of the 6 month delay with MOT's.
After all its all about money , most companies with financial savvy , would take advantage .
So its nothing to worry about , just showing our club for once is taking advantage of a loophole

Cardiff City released a statement to clarify where they stood with regards to a transfer embargo.

On Tuesday evening, a report by the Daily Mail stated the Bluebirds had been hit with a registration ban. However, City's statement moved to explain that the embargo is merely administrative and will not affect summer transfer plans.

"Further to national media reports on Tuesday morning, Cardiff City can confirm that it has been placed under EFL transfer embargo," the Bluebirds statement read.

"The club can assure supporters that this is part of an administrative process imposed by the EFL. It has no bearing on the day-to-day running of the club, nor its finances or sustainability. It will not affect us trading in the summer 2021 transfer window"

Pretty poor from the EFL, though as to be expected

BBC Wales news, made a big thing of it tonight.
We don't normally get a, mention.

It's okay; it was a negative, so worth a mention by the Beeb...

Pretty poor from the EFL, though as to be expected

Absolutely. You'd think during such unprecedented times the EFL would be looking to help their member clubs in whatever way they can rather than seeking to punish some for a course of action which has already been approved by government for other businesses.

The world of football business really is a cesspool.