Why Did FIFA Impose a Ban on Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr?

Al-Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia is subject to a FIFA ban that restricts them from adding new players to their team.

Initiating the mass exodus by signing Cristiano Ronaldo to an attractive £175 million-per-year contract, the club has been at the forefront of the Saudi Pro League's efforts to sign some of the top football players in the world. 

Since then, the nine-time Saudi champions have moved quickly to improve their European credentials, with Marcelo Brozovic, a World Cup and Champions League finalist, joining this summer. 

What is the reason behind the ban on the club?

Even though Ahmed Musa was signed by the Saudi club Al Nassr in 2018, his signing is still open. He left two years later and has since played for three different teams. Leicester City, a team in the Championship, asserts that a transfer price owed to Saudi Arabia's team has not yet been settled. If this is the case, FIFA may take action against the club. In these situations, the governing body frequently imposes fines that might include up to three windows during which players cannot be signed.

The global governing body has determined that the Saudi giants were obligated to pay Leicester up to £390,000 in add-ons - plus interest - for Ahmed Musa after the Nigerian player signed back in 2018.

Al-Nassr was informed that if they did not make the overdue payment to Leicester, a transfer registration ban would be imposed on them when the decision was first announced in October 2021. Transfers both domestically and internationally would be impacted by a negative verdict.

However, the solution is relatively straightforward. Since Musa moved to Sivasspor in Turkey last summer, the club would have to pay the unpaid outstanding amount of €460,000 ($510,000) plus interest to resolve the situation and avert any potential suspension.