According to Spanish publication AS, a number of major European football clubs could soon face international transfer sanctions from FIFA. FC Barcelona, the reigning La Liga victories, will soon finish out a 14-month transfer ban of their own-a sanction handed down from FIFA after the club violated the rules for signing players under the age of 18. Evidently, though, FIFA believes other clubs have broken the same rules and is currently considering sanctions for Chelsea, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and other major European soccer clubs.
Delayed Action
So far, FIFA hasn't actually handed down any transfer sanctions. Mirror proposed two potential reasons 
for the delay: first, that Real Madrid and the other clubs are using their significant power and sway within the soccer world to delay the sanctions; and second, that FIFA is currently in disarray, following controversy over bribes (and the subsequent suspension of FIFA President Sepp Blatter).
While the delayed action could be good news for Chelsea, Arsenal, and the other teams currently in jeopardy, they also leave a guillotine hanging over those clubs' heads. With 2015 play winding down, both in continental tournaments and domestic league competitions, most football league teams are eyeing potential transfer opportunities for the January window. If any of these teams get hit with transfer bans, they would likely apply to the 2016 calendar year-something that would scupper plans across the board for many of Europe's biggest football clubs.
The Hardest Hit
The question at this point is, of the clubs named so far as potential targets for FIFA punishment, which would be hit hardest by the possibility of transfer sanctions?
If there is a team in the bunch that could weather the storm of a lengthy transfer ban-as FC Barcelona have done-it's Real Madrid. While the Vikings haven't been as great as usual this season, much of the blame has been laid at the feet of new manager Rafael Benitez-or perhaps more accurately, at club officials for the unceremonious sacking of Carlo Ancelotti. Real Madrid still have their fair share of the best players in the world, and the most a year-long transfer ban would likely do would be to delay the rumored 
departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and/or Gareth Bale. Depending on what kind of fan you are, in other words, a transfer ban might actually be good news for the Vikings.
The same cannot be said for Chelsea, who are hurting in so many ways this season that a dip into the transfer market in January seems like the only possible chance at a turnaround. With the club's top players from last season-Eden Hazard and Diego Costa-underperforming, the Blues need a chance to inject some fresh blood into the proceedings. A transfer sanction from FIFA at this point would only further cripple an already broken organization.
Arsenal are in better shape at the moment but are still in dire need of a trip to the transfer market. The Gunners have a deep squad this season with a lot of talent available to put on the field. The issue is that they've been hit hard with injuries this fall-with Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Francis Coquelin, and Arteta all sidelined for a recent match against Norwich City. The winter transfer window could help the Gunners get 
some much-needed reinforcements.
Atletico Madrid, finally, fall somewhere in between their crosstown rivals and the two English clubs facing sanctions. The Mattress Makers don't have the meteoric talent of Real Madrid, but they also aren't facing the current woes that Chelsea and Arsenal are. Currently trailing only Barcelona in the La Liga, Atletico Madrid could probably withstand a sanction-even if it would dispel the rumors of Chelsea's Diego Costa returning to Spain in January.
Hope for no sanctions for your favorite football club, with a new jersey or two from the Soccer Box store. In addition to the Arsenal shirt 2015/16, we have the latest official kits from Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Chelsea in stock. .
