TPO: Belgian second division club RC Seraing sanctioned by FIFA with two-year transfer ban

The FIFA Appeal Committee rejected, on 22/02/2016, the appeal of the Belgian club RFC Seraing (Proximus League) and confirmed in its entirety the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, on 17/09/2015, which had sanctioned the club to a transfer ban, both nationally and internationally, of four complete and consecutive transfer windows for breaches of the rules of the influence of third parties and ownership of the economic rights of players by third parties (TPO).

The appeal by the RFC Seraing, a subsidiary of the French club FC Metz (Ligue 2), before the FIFA Appeal Committee had a immediate suspensive effect. The Belgian club's transfer ban therefore applies from the 2016 summer window and extends to the 2018 winter transfer (inclusive). The club also received a warning and was fined CHF150,000 (about €137,000).

RFC Seraing are the first club sanctioned by FIFA since the ban of TPO began on 01/05/2015. The club can now appeal to the CAS.

The prohibition of third party ownership (Articles 18bis and 18ter of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players)