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Cologne's junior player Jaka Cuber Potocnik at a match in the Junior Bundesliga West in March
Photo: Herbert Bucco / dpa
The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has suspended the transfer ban imposed by FIFA on 1. This will allow the club to sign new players next summer. This was announced by the Bundesliga club in the evening. "This means that FC is able to act in preparation for the 2023/24 season," it continues. It is "not yet possible to predict" when the appeal ruling can be expected.
The world association Fifa had prohibited the Cologne for the next two transfer periods the commitment of new players. The reason is the transfer of the then 16-year-old Slovenian Jaka Cuber Potocnik, who had unilaterally terminated his contract with Olimpija Ljubljana in January 2022 and came to Cologne on a free transfer. The Slovenians accused FC of incitement to breach of contract and filed a complaint with FIFA.
Against the ban, both Cologne and the Slovenian club, which is demanding higher compensation, and Potocnik himself were in front of the Cas. In addition to the transfer ban, the four-month match ban against Potocnik is now also suspended.
FC managing director Christian Keller said the decision was "important for us. Now we can become active in the transfer market within the scope of our limited possibilities due to economic consolidation." However, the club knows "that the suspension is only a first step towards preventing the transfer ban. We will therefore continue to work hard to completely avert the FIFA ruling."
The signing of Leart Paqarada (28), which took place at the beginning of January, has been maintained. The left-back will be allowed to move from FC St. Pauli to Cologne in the summer and will also be eligible to play.
The possibility of transfers in the summer is also important for Cologne because two of the most important players will leave the club. Captain Jonas Hector is ending his career, midfield boss Ellyes Skhiri is unlikely to extend his contract.
mgo/dpa/sid