Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr has been banned by FIFA from registering new players, a huge blow for the Saudi Pro League Side.
Al Nassr, who finished second in the top flight last year, kicked off Saudi Arabia’s football takeover when they brought in Ronaldo on an eye-watering £173 million-a-year contract in December 2022.
FIFA prohibits the club from signing any new players, whether domestic or international transfers.
The suspension is for three transfer windows and relates to the club failing to pay owed add-ons to Leicester City as part of a £14 million deal for Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa.
It’s said Nassr owed the Foxes £390,000 between 2018 and 20 but has yet to pay up and has now been punished as a result.
Musa scored just five times for Leicester but scored 14 times in 62 games for Al Nassr, helping them win the league in the 2018/19 season.
The initial FIFA ruling was brought in 2021 and supported by CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport), which sided with Leicester on the matter.
READ ALSO: Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak Should Look the Way of this Youngster for Goals
Nassr was told to pay the remaining fee as agreed upon in the contract, or else they would receive a transfer ban.
They have not complied and have since been disciplined, though the suspension is set to be lifted as the club says they will promptly pay up.
With the substantial investment from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Nassr hopes their revised structure and improved finances will ensure such issues do not occur again.
In November, Nassr paid $2.5 million to Brazilian midfielder Petros over a dispute regarding his terminated contract.
