ESPN’s Jon Champion embraces ‘a new challenge’ with move to Major League Soccer

WASHINGTON — After spending decades as a globally-known voice of the English Premier League, Jon Champion began a new era of his broadcasting career this past Sunday as ESPN's lead voice of Major League Soccer.

Before kickoff of his first game, D.C. United vs. Atlanta United, Champion spent a few minutes chatting with the Inquirer about why he made the move, and what's to come. The conversation has been edited lightly for clarity.

How does it feel to be getting started with this?

Really exciting. After 35 years of doing top-level football in the U.K., it's just nice to be facing a new challenge. To have different thought processes to get through, different people to get to know, different contacts to make. And also, I think, an interesting and potentially exciting story to tell with the development of the league at the moment.

Was that part of what motivated you to come over here? Just to do something different?

Yes, it was. And also to be part of something that's growing. I've been fortunate that my time working in broadcasting in the U.K. has coincided with the birth and then the immense growth of the Premier League, from an interesting concept to a worldwide powerhouse in sports. I've been coming here now for five seasons, doing the occasional MLS game. And even in that time, I've seen the steep trajectory that the league is heading on. So I just thought now is a really good time to come over.

This has been mooted for about four or five years, after I did the World Cup in 2014 for ESPN. They took me out for lunch in London in December of that year and said, "Hey, how about it?" And it just wasn't right for family reasons at the time. The kids were the wrong age. But this year was the first year when it really was right. And also, in that time, I've seen the game and the sport move on here. So it ticked all the boxes. It just seemed the right time to make the move.

[Champion and his wife have four children, ages 23, 21, 19 and 26. The oldest is working, the middle two are in college, and the youngest will finish high school in Boston after moving to the U.S. in the summer.]

Which MLS venues have you been to already?

Red Bull Arena, Toronto, Seattle, Sporting Kansas City, Gillette [New England], Orlando, Portland. I loved Portland. That just seemed the perfect football ground to me. I was lucky enough to call Seattle-Portland at Providence Park. That was another of the reasons that I'm here now, really, because that was a thrill.

Did it make a difference for you that ESPN was the network inviting you over here, instead of, say, a startup looking to make a splash?

Yes. And don't forget that I've had a fairly lengthy relationship [with the network]. From 2009 to 2013, I was the lead announcer on the Premier League when they had their U.K. operation, showing live Premier League games there [and in the U.S. too].

Then when that stopped, they were very quickly in touch to invite me to do the World Cup in 2014. And then they gave me a contract to come and do 15, 20 appearances off the back of that, with this thought that eventually, there would be some form of succession and I would come over.

They've been very good to me. They've always made me extremely welcome here. I enjoy working with Taylor [Twellman, the network's lead analyst] and the production crew. So it just felt right in every respect.

Which is not to denigrate any of the other broadcasters over here. I know all the NBC people very well, [coordinating producer] Pierre Moossa and company, because of my work for the Premier League on their broadcasts. I know quite a few of the people at Fox as well. But ESPN are the company that I've already effectively worked at for 10 years. So it was a natural fit.

If someone had said to you five years ago that you'd be calling Wayne Rooney's games in MLS, what would you have thought?

Well, I suppose there was always a chance. But I'm delighted he's here. And slightly surprised at how well he's done. But I think he's loving just being allowed to concentrate on playing football, which is the thing that's always driven him. He was a street footballer growing up in Liverpool. That's all he wanted to do from first light until dusk: just play football in the streets. He's never happier.

And of course here, he has the role that he's always cherished, which is being the main striker — the one that English clubs, latterly at Everton and before that at Manchester United, decided that he was no longer capable of playing. And arguably, he's proving them wrong here.

There's been a big move in the other direction, too: Miguel Almirón from Atlanta to Newcastle United. Were you able to take in any of his arrival over there before coming over here?

My last game that I called for the Premier League around the world was Newcastle-Manchester City, Newcastle's famous win at the end of January. That was the night when Newcastle rushed out the news of Almirón's signing before the game. They were facing insurrection that night because of the lack of transfer activity in the market. I got a taste of it then.

And obviously I've been aware of Almirón through watching the broadcasts in the U.K. of MLS, and I've been really impressed by him and his relationship with Josef Martínez. Of his three appearances so far for Newcastle, two have been excellent. He was rather anonymous at West Ham, but his displays at St. James' Park, he's certainly warmed to that, and they've certainly warmed to him.

Will Almirón's success help knock down some more of the barriers that American soccer has faced in trying to earn respect in Europe?

Yes, but I think those barriers have been being knocked over for a while. It helps that the league now has a regular window on Sky television late on Saturday and Sunday night, because it's a time when there is no other football on TV. So the viewing figures are actually pretty solid and pretty good for those, and growing. That's been good in growing awareness of the league.

The fact that Rooney's here, the fact that [Zlatan] Ibrahimović is here, obviously helps. But I think the most positive thing is the fact that the league is now producing players who are being sold for fairly significant sums to European clubs. Not just Almirón, but we look at Tyler Adams going [to RB Leipzig], we look at Alphonso Davies going and immediately getting into the first team picture at Bayern [Munich]. Step by step, those preconceptions, I think, are being shown to be unfair, and people are starting to look at MLS in a much more positive light.

I was slightly concerned when my announcement was made in December that I was coming over here, leaving behind a very nice job over there. I was a bit concerned as to whether there might be some negativity in terms of the wider public perceptions of that. I can honestly say that without exception, everyone has come up to me, slapped me on the back, been extremely kind, and said, "What a fantastic opportunity." So that perhaps gives a little idea of how soccer in America, and its potential, is now being viewed.

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LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United to splash £120m on Paulo Dybala if Romelu Lukaku goes

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals, and keep track of who has joined the big boys. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Man United to turn to Dybala if Lukaku leaves?

Could Paulo Dybala be on his way to Manchester United? He certainly could if Romelu Lukaku exits this summer.

That's according to The Sun, which reports that United are lining up a bid for the Argentinian who emerged as one of European football's hottest targets in recent seasons.

Lukaku has struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford since arriving from Everton, and the 25-year-old Dybala has been singled out by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a player who can help United close the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

But will Juventus sell Dybala? Flash £120 million and that might be enough, says The Sun.

LIVE BLOG

09.19 GMT: The agent of River Plate midfielder Exequiel Palacios says he is in talks with Inter Milan with a view to the player joining in the summer.

Palacios, who was a target of Real Madrid in the winter transfer window, sustained a fractured fibula last month.

"We don't have a definite agreement with Madrid," said Palacio's agent to FcInternews.it. "We had many meetings with them but the negotiation was never completed. We were about to complete it but then, because of this small fracture in the fibula, we didn't get it done. Now negotiations (with Madrid) have cooled off. We shall see. In the meantime, I can reveal that certain executives from Inter have shown an interest in the player.

"Exequiel would be honoured to sign for Inter that is what I told (Inter vice-president) Javier Zanetti. His release clause is €15m. Real Madrid would have paid a little bit more in order to erase the player's departure from River. Real Madrid want to wait and see how my client fully recovers. But if they don't make a move then we will see what is out there. Exequiel is only 20 years old. He would be just as happy playing for the Nerazzurri. "

08.55 GMT: PSG midfielder Marco Verratti has spoken to Le Parisien about his contract extension talks. Mainly to say he won't be speaking about them.

"These are things that I do not speak about," he said. "I know that my agent [Mino Raiola] and the club are in contact from time to time. However, nothing is signed yet. I am still under contract for a number of years [until 2021]. I have no problem signing a new contract here. I will be 27 soon, and if I sign, that will be another four, or five, years. I could finish my career here, if the club wants that to happen. Whatever happens, I will always be grateful to PSG."

08.00 GMT: The Daily Telegraph claim that Manchester City may have to have to break the world record transfer fee of £75m for a defender if they sign Leicester City and England left-back Ben Chilwell this summer.

Sources have told ESPN FC that City are keen on the 22-year-old but it seems they will have to part with a hefty fee.

PAPER TALK (by Richard Edwards) Man City to clean up on Sancho

The Sun also reports that Manchester City will coin it in if Jadon Sancho leaves Borussia Dortmund for big money this summer.

Pep Guardiola's side could make £15m if Sancho leaves for £100m, which might ease the pain for a club that let him go for comparative peanuts in 2017.

Sancho refused to sign on the dotted line at City but the club inserted a cheeky little 15 percent sell-on clause in the expectation that Sancho would develop at a rapid pace in the Bundesliga. They also have the chance to match any price that the likes of Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain come up with.

The player was on the receiving end as Spurs demolished the German giants 4-0 over two legs in the Champions League round of 16, but his performances in the Bundesliga have won him a host of admirers across the continent.

It's just the latest piece of negotiating genius from City, who also inserted a "United clause" in its recent deal involving Brahim Diaz with Real Madrid. That clause would see them enjoy 40 percent of the profits of any deal that sees the player move to Old Trafford from the Bernabeu.

Molde growing on Solskjaer's contract in Norway

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is yet to be confirmed as the new Manchester United boss, but it looks increasingly unlikely that he'll return to Molde.

That's according to the Fotballklubben podcast (via FourFourTwo), with the Norwegian suggesting that his contract with his previous club had expired.

"I'm not sure how it works," he said. "I think the contract is expired and that I'm now under contract with Manchester United. I think we need a new contract there [at Molde]."

After transforming the fortunes of his former club, though, chances are that he won't be returning to Molde any time soon. According to Press Association Sport, Solskjaer has signed a deal with United until the end of the season, despite signing a three-year deal to extend his second spell with Molde just weeks before he returned for his second coming at Old Trafford.

It has been a case of so far, so good in the northwest for Solskjaer. And the chances of him returning to Molde look remote.

Tap-ins

- Tiemoue Bakayoko is still in the dark over his future at Chelsea -- and AC Milan. That's according to France Football (via the Daily Mail), with the former Monaco star saying: "When I think of my future, it is a total blur. I cannot empty my head."

- Meanwhile, at Leicester, Brendan Rodgers is bracing himself for a triple raid on Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell and James Maddison. The Mirror reports that Rodgers, newly arrived from Celtic, is prepared for the interest in his three prize assets. But he has no plans to let any of them leave any time soon.

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Maurizio Sarri must navigate and survive Chelsea's two-window transfer ban

It all stemmed from a misunderstanding, according to both Maurizio Sarri and Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Chelsea keeper provided one of the defining moments of the European soccer season in refusing to be subbed off before penalties during Chelsea's loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Arrizabalaga, offering a distinctly modern apology by sharing an Apple note on Twitter in both Spanish and English, explained that he was trying to relay to Sarri that he fought off his cramp and didn't need to be taken off. 

Video of Sarri's reaction, and the ensuing memes, only exasperated the moment. Cutting through the noise, John Terry did not buy the explanation in his post-match analysis, saying that both comments were made to protect the media from investigating into underlying issues. 

Despite Sarri's attempt to divide dressing room dynamics with public perception, Arrizabalaga was fined a week's wages and benched for their match against Tottenham days later in what the Italian manager described as "a message" that the side was bigger than just one player. Willy Caballero, in veteran fashion, saw the confrontation as an opportunity for learning — at least publicly. He stated, "Sometimes these things pull players apart, but in this case, we are more together than ever." And Chelsea did beat Tottenham, 2-0. 

The public spectacle was embarrassing, but it was just the second-most damaging revelation of Chelsea's week. The club also received a transfer ban across two windows for violating rules related to signing players under 18 years old. It was found guilty of Article 19 — playing youth players without proper registration — in 92 out of 100 investigated cases. The findings presented another look into how top sides navigate the rules in the battle for global talent. Lyon striker Bertrand Traore, who signed for Chelsea a day after his 18th birthday, was photographed playing for its youth side in a "non-competitive" match when he was 16. In unofficially moving from Auxerre to Chelsea, the club paid for Traore's schooling in England while making a $200,000 payment to his mom, further signaling a world of unspoken agreements and handshakes. 

Though with Chelsea appealing, a ban likely will not be in place until later transfer windows. (A Twitter poll asking who the club should sign this summer shows the side's level of concern.) And while the ban seems damning on the surface, there are ways to navigate out of the predicament with proper planning. Before Barcelona's transfer ban in 2014, it spent $200 million on Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, all of whom make up the current side's backbone five years later. Atletico Madrid found creative ways to get past its transfer ban in signing Vitolo from Sevilla, then loaning him out to Las Palmas. Although, Chelsea may lack what both La Liga sides had in stability and an overarching style. 

"I never really speak to him, so I'd be happy to speak to him," said Sarri of Roman Abramovich following Chelsea's 6-0 loss to Manchester City. Sarri added that he "didn't know what to expect" when it came to whether he would remain as manager. But he could have been talking about Chelsea's future during the transfer ban as well.

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It may have been the single most expensive WhatsApp group in history, made up by the 33 players Chelsea had on loan in 2015, a place for player bonding while in exile. Weekend highlights were circulated throughout the chat, although Patrick Bamford, then on loan at Crystal Palace at the time, observed that "sometimes it drains your battery when everyone is messaging each other." Another absurd, yet telling, detail surrounding the chat was how goalkeeper Matej Delac, who had been loaned out 10 times in his seven seasons at Chelsea while not making single appearance for the senior side, became the club's longest-serving player in 2017. Attempts to dominate European soccer follow their own unique rabbit hole.

Although, the club trimmed down to just 22 players on loan this season. How many of these names were eventually responsible in Chelsea getting its two-window transfer ban? It is reminiscent of a current college basketball scandal revolving around recruiting: Doesn't every team in the world blur the boundaries when it comes to adding talent through unspoken agreements? Manchester City is currently being investigated for how it signed Jadon Sancho from Watford by giving his agent a "scouting contract" to help sway the player to the club. With the increasing focus on global branding and attention, there seems to be a tacit understanding that this is just how things happen behind the scenes. The only crime is in getting caught.

Ironically, we may find that Chelsea will have to use its extensive, on-loan youth talent to thrive during the ban, especially if Eden Hazard leaves for Real Madrid, as per speculation. Terry echoed the sentiment that Chelsea's struggles this season, combined with the transfer ban, was an opportunity for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to gain valuable playing experience, adding, "Let's blood the younger players and see what we've got." With an uncertain future ahead, now would be the time for players of Chelsea's system to define the personality and identity of the side. 

Chelsea was of its time during the turn of the decade with the emphasis on signing players on loan and feeding them to clubs throughout Europe for development and an eventual sell. It looked good on paper and in spreadsheets, and it was effective. But as the older generation of personalities who defined the side's backbone — from Terry to Frank Lampard turned — there was no leader to regain control of the team's emotion. Besides, buying players is passe — the current movement is about buying clubs under a portfolio like the City Football Group. (Is the next step for a conglomerate to purchase an entire league?)

I initially thought that the transfer ban could end up being a blessing for Sarri as the club strives for continuity. It could be an opportunity for Sarri to settle down with a group of players and mold them into his quick, passing vision. Yet even if Sarri eventually takes the fall, the mentality and pestilence brought on by instability looks to set Chelsea into a culture of short booms like Mourinho and Antonio Conte initially experienced, followed by an inevitable decline regardless of the manager. After beating Tottenham and knocking that side out of the title race, Sarri tried to put the previous month in perspective, saying that any manager would be under pressure after two or three losses. He did concede that the pressure may be more scrutinized at Chelsea.

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LIVE Transfer Talk: Bale agent's talk has Premier League clubs on alert

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals, and keep track of who has joined the big boys. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Bale agent has English clubs on red alert

Gareth Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett has English clubs salivating over the prospect of landing the Welshman after he told ESPN FC that Real Madrid fans are "a disgrace."

Bale was booed off at the Bernabeu on Saturday night as they lost to Barcelona for the second time in quick succession and Barnett's outburst, in which he said Real fans "should be ashamed of themselves," will only serve to enhance the already growing rumours about Bale's future.

Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with Bale in recent months. And with the Welshman seemingly taking the brunt of the flack from the Bernabeu faithful, a result of Los Blancos dropping to third place and 12 points behind rivals Barca, he may decide to start afresh where he's more appreciated.

However, the Sun disagree; they're suggesting Bale won't be returning to England, purely because they believe no club can afford his £650,000-a-week wages.

LIVE BLOG

10.55 GMT: Atletico Madrid have stepped up interest in Porto defender Alex Telles to replace Filipe Luis, whose contract expires at the end of the season. AS claim that Telles has a €40m release clause, so at least Atletico know how much they will need to spend.

10.31 GMT: AS reports that Juventus are leading the race for coveted youngster Joao Felix.

Felix, 19, was promoted to Benfica's first team at the start of the season and has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo. Sources have told ESPN that Real Madrid and Manchester United are tracking the attacking midfielder but evidently Juve are keen to pair the 'new Ronaldo' with the actual Ronaldo for a season or two.

09.57 GMT: Who will become the first £100m English footballer? Well, the Daily Telegraph reckon that Manchester United are "ready to battle Paris St-Germain for Jadon Sancho in a tug-of-war."

Sancho seems to be the top target for both now, having joined Dortmund from Man City for around £8m in summer 2017. But if United land him, the paper claims "any move for the teenage England winger would raise fresh doubts over the future of Alexis Sanchez."

09.02 GMT: Giovani dos Santos' contract with the LA Galaxy was bought out last week but the former Barcelona and Tottenham forward won't be heading to Liga MX and sources close to the player have told ESPN he could make a move to China.

08.30 GMT: Italian outlet Calciomercato says that Arsenal have expressed a firm interest in Roma youngster Cengiz Under, with scouts ready to watch the forward for the second time later this month.

Under has a contract until 2022 with Roma pretty firm on their price for the 22-year-old Turkey international of €30m. Over you to Arsenal.

PAPER TALK (By Nick Judd) Rodgers will have to break record to land Tielemans

New Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers will have to smash the club's transfer record if he's to land loan star Youri Tielemans on a permanent deal from Monaco, reports the Telegraph.

Tielemans joined the Foxes on deadline day in January in a deal that saw Adrien Silva move in the other direction. Twenty-one-year-old Tielemans has now played four times for Leicester, setting up goals from Demarai Gray and Jamie Vardy in the last two games.

Monaco are believed to have asked for £40 million for the Belgian, a fee that would shatter the Foxes' previous purchase, the £28m they spent on striker Islam Slimani.

Rodgers may feel he can get a better deal if he can tempt the French club into taking Silva on a permanent basis. Silva has played all five matches for Monaco, and has starred for Leonardo Jadim.

Juventus hold the Kai to signing Havertz?

Italian champions elect Juventus have joined Arsenal in the race to sign in-form attacking midfielder Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen, reports Calciomercato.

Havertz has scored 12 goals and added seven assists this season, imperious form that has seen him attract the attention of Europe's biggest clubs. Arsenal have reportedly been watching the 19-year-old for some time with a view to him replacing Mesut Ozil. However, the Gunners now face competition from both Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Havertz is in his third season in the Leverkusen first team and is revelling since his move from the centre of midfield to a more attacking role. He is tall, quick and has an eye for goal.

Havertz was recently described by Germany coach Joachim Low as one of the "most talented players in Germany."

Tap-ins

- Calciomerato also state that Hannover 96 are interested in signing Arsenal attacker Takuma Asano. The 24-year-old joined the German club on a season-long loan in the summer and now the Bundesliga side are looking to make the move permanent, despite Asano failing to score in his 12 appearances so far.

- Tiemoue Bakayoko is keen to stay at AC Milan beyond the end of this season, he has told France Football. The 24-year-old told the French publication that he felt it was Chelsea's decision to let him go on loan, not Maurizio Sarri's, but says he's now happy at the San Siro and hoping to settle in Gennaro Gattuso's side.

- Tottenham are eyeing up a move for Notts County youngster Kion Etete after he scored twice in a trial match against West Ham United at the weekend, report the Daily Mail. Etete signed his first professional contract with the Magpies in November last year and was linked with a move to Nottingham Forest in January, but Spurs are said to be keen on the pacy 17-year-old.

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Chelsea 'defy transfer ban' by asking fans about summer signings, Twitter laughs

Chelsea tweeted to ask fans who they should sign this summer and were hit with the inevitable backlash.. Twitter @ChelseaFC

Obviously gluttons for punishment, Chelsea invited a metaphorical avalanche of scorn their way with an ill-advised tweet published on Tuesday afternoon.

Mere days after the club was placed under a FIFA transfer ban until 2020, the Blues' social media team decided it would be a good time to quiz fans on who their dream transfer targets would be this coming summer.

Naturally, the tweet has now been deleted. But, as you might imagine, the reaction was nigh-on immediate, with the mockery coming thick and fast.

- Marcotti: What did they do wrong? Chelsea transfer ban explained

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FIFA hands Chelsea a year-long transfer ban, but how much will it actually hurt the Blues?

FIFA hit Premier League titan Chelsea with a two-window transfer ban on Friday, the punishment handed down following a three-year investigation by global soccer's governing body that found Chelsea had broken rules related to the signing of youth players.

"The FIFA disciplinary committee has sanctioned the English club Chelsea FC and the Football Association for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18," FIFA said in a statement announcing the news.

The club intends to appeal the ruling, according to multiple reports. If upheld, the ban would forbid the Blues from adding new players during the next two transfer windows. That means that the earliest the London club would be able to lure new recruits would be the summer of 2020. (Chelsea's women's and futsal squads are exempt from the sanctions, FIFA said.) The Zurich-based organization also fined the Blues 600,000 Swiss francs, just over $600,000.

Chelsea's transfer ban could prevent manager Maurizio Sarri (left) from signing stars like Gonzalo Higuain outright. (Adam Davy/Getty)

MoreHow much will the ban hurt Chelsea?

Chelsea isn't the first all-world club to find itself in hot water over its transfer dealings. Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Real Madrid have all been banned in the recent past without much of a negative impact on their success on the field or off.

Even if Chelsea loses its appeal, the delay in the process could be enough to allow the club to stockpile signings before the transfer freeze goes into effect. That was Barca's strategy back in 2014, when it was able to bring in roster mainstays such as Luis Suarez before going dark for an extended period.

Still, there's no question that what's effectively a year-long suspension from the global player market will hurt the Blues' ability to compete against rivals both in the Prem and internationally, even in the short term.

Will the ban impact Christian Pulisic's move to the Blues?

After Chelsea announced last month that it had signed U.S. men's national team front man Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund, it immediately loaned him bac k to the German Bundesliga leaders until the end of the current season.

Because the Pulisic deal was agreed to before Friday's ruling, it will not be affected by it. However, the ban could potentially prevent Chelsea from making the loans of Gonzalo Higuain (from Juventus) and Mateo Kovacic (from Real Madrid) permanent this summer, although an option to buy clause contained in the original arrangement with Juve might provide a loopho le in Higuain's case.

Christian Pulisic's move to Chelsea this summer will not be affected by the travel ban. (The Independent)

MoreCan Eden Hazard and others still leave the club?

Yes. The ban only prevents Chelsea from buying new players, not selling the ones it already has. There had already been a ton of speculation that Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard could leave London this summer if he continues to refuse a contract extension at Stamford Bridge. That could still happen.

In fact, the odds of Hazard sticking around long-term – and this also goes for the likes of youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi as well as veterans Willian and Pedro, all of whom will be free agents when their contracts expire in 2020 – are probably even slimmer now. 

The Chelsea brass knows this. The prudent thing to do from a business standpoint would be to sell those players this summer rather than risk losing them for nothing 12 months on. But would the Blues be able to remain competitive without the ability to replace several key difference-makers? If the decision-makers determine that the answer is no, Chelsea just might be forced to hang on to Hazard et. al. for one final season nonetheless.

Doug McIntyre covers soccer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

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Chelsea has just been slapped with a 2-window transfer ban, but it's just one of many massive problems at a once-great club going backwards

Chelsea FC has been slapped with a two-window transfer ban but it's just one of many massive problems at a once-great soccer club that is going backwards.

FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, confirmed on Friday that the Premier League club was found to have broken rules regarding "the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18."

Sky Sports News reports that the sanctions "are a result of a three-year investigation" with one of the more contentious signings being the acquisition of Bertrand Traore in 2013, who was 18 at the time. The BBC said Chelsea failed to register Traore until January, 2014.

FIFA found breaches in 29 cases of youth player signings and has been fined $600,000 as a result. The greater punishment, though, is being handcuffed in the upcoming transfer markets and not being allowed to recruit any players until the 2020 summer transfer window.

The club has since published a statement on its official website, reading: "Chelsea categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and will therefore be appealing the decision."

It appealed a decision before. In 2009, Chelsea was adjudged to have illegally purchased the youth player Gael Kakuta two years prior. FIFA hit the London club with a two-year ban, but Chelsea appealed, successfully, and the ban was reduced.

Regardless of whether Chelsea is as successful in reducing its current ban, the club continues to be struck with one problem after another.

Chelsea was a once-great soccer club

Even before the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003, the club was still a reasonably successful cup team.

However, Abramovich's presence elevated the club's stature significantly. In the last 15 years, Chelsea has won five Premier League titles, five FA Cup trophies, three League Cups, and witnessed wild success in Europe having won the 2012 UEFA Champions League title and the 2013 UEFA Europa League.

Some of the best players in the club's entire history represented the Blues in that silver-laden era, with Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole, and Claude Makelele wowing crowds up and down the country on a regular basis.

Didier Drogba, John Terry, and Frank Lampard.Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

It is a far cry from what the club is going through now, as it got dumped out of the FA Cup fifth round by Manchester United earlier this month and is struggling in sixth place in the Premier League.

But results are not the only thing failing to go the club's way. This is because Chelsea has an ageing squad and so a transfer ban, regardless of whether that is for two windows or gets reduced, would have a massive impact.

Willian and Pedro are the wrong side of 30; the club's star player Eden Hazard continues to be linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid and could be free to leave as FIFA's ban only applies to signings, not sales; and the recent loan recruit Gonzalo Higuain will return to Juventus in the summer, which leaves a dearth of quality in the striking department.

Chelsea also has a coach in Maurizio Sarri who has so far proven unpopular with fans thanks to his insistence on attempting to utilize a style of soccer dubbed Sarri-ball. Though the system worked at the start of the season, with Chelsea unbeaten in its first dozen matches, things quickly went downhill and it has failed to yield the elite results that supporters of the team have been used to in seasons past.

Maurizio Sarri.Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

In short, Sarri-ball attempts to use meticulous player positioning, triangle formations, and one-touch soccer which sees passes funnel through the team from the goalkeeper and defence, through to midfield and attack, with very few long balls used.

When it's done right, like when Sarri was at his former club Napoli, it can — and frequently did — look captivating. But it can go dreadfully wrong, like when Chelsea defenders lose the ball at the back and surrender possession to the opposition attack.

One of the most damning statistics that indicate Sarri's method is failing is that only 18.5% of the team's "10+ pass sequence" lead to a shot, or a touch, in the opposition box. This is bettered by nine other Premier League teams, including Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Manchester City.

But when pressed on whether he will adapt Sarri-ball, or ditch it entirely, the 60-year-old Italian remained resolute. "I don't think so, personally," he recently said, according to Sky Sports. "I'd like to see this football played in the right way, and then we can change."

Chelsea also has an absent owner Roman Abramovich.Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

Roman Abramovich often used to be seen in the stands of Chelsea matches, and has even been seen on video celebrating with players in the locker room.

But the billionaire's interest has waned significantly this season. In fact, Sarri has said he's hardly ever heard from him. "If the president calls, I'll be happy, seeing as I never hear from him," he said, according to Goal.com.

The Guardian also reports that "Abramovich has not attended a game this season, having withdrawn his application for a UK visa last year," and there is no indication that he intends on visiting Stamford Bridge any time soon.

With an absent owner, a coach stubbornly continuing with failing tactics, and an ageing squad, a two-window transfer ban presents Chelsea with one more problem it must attempt to solve. But judging from the club's recent history, things may well get worse before they can get better.

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