Nottingham Forest: Club will not face Premier League punishment over transfer administration error | Football News
Nottingham Forest will face no punishment from the Premier League despite an administrative error meaning they confirmed a transfer which would have breached the rules on the number of international loans allowed, Sky Sports News has learned.
When Jonjo Shelvey left the City Ground and moved to Trabzonspor at the end of the summer transfer window, Forest’s initial agreement with the Turkish club was for a season-long loan.
However, Forest were unable to lodge the paperwork on FIFA’s registration portal, which blocks any attempt to exceed the number of loans allowed.
Nottingham Forest signed Jonjo Shelvey from Newcastle last January
An automatic alert was generated, informing Forest’s bosses that the deal would breach the world governing body’s rules, which allows a maximum of seven international loans per club. The rule is in place to try to prevent clubs from hoarding talent.
Sky Sports News contacted FIFA on Thursday morning, but there has so far been no comment, meaning it is not yet clear if Forest will face a disciplinary claim from FIFA.
When Forest’s officials realised the issue, they quickly re-negotiated the deal with Trabzonspor on September 14, by making the move substantive, rather than a loan. It had, though, already been registered with the Premier League as a loan.
Shelvey went on to sign a year-long contract with the Turkish club.
The confusion arose, Sky Sports News understands, because Forest expected 21-year-old Alex Mighten’s loan deal with Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk to be classified by FIFA as a youth loan, whereas in fact he was registered as a senior player.
Sky Sports News has learned that, prior to his move, Shelvey had a significant falling out with the then manager, Steve Cooper, who as a result refused to have him as part of his first-team plans.
However, we’ve been told that the breakdown in relations had nothing to do with the administrative mistake, which ultimately led to Shelvey’s loan move to Turkey being made substantive.
