The defending champions of the Indian Super League (ISL), Mumbai City FC have been hit with a national transfer ban by FIFA. The club cannot register any new players until the ban is lifted. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) released a circular stating, “This circular is to notify all the member associations and stakeholders that a national ban on player registration has been imposed on Mumbai City FC (FIFA ID-142UH1C), a club registered with the Western India Football Association.” The ban is effective immediately, as communicated by FIFA’s Head of Disciplinary.
Previous suspensions faced by Mumbai City FC
This is not the first time Mumbai City FC has faced disciplinary issues. Last season, foreign players Rostyn Griffiths and Jorge Pereyra Diaz were suspended for five and four matches respectively after a heated semifinal against Odisha FC. Griffiths parted ways with the club in January 2024, while Pereyra joined Bengaluru FC in July.
In 2019, the club’s under-18 side faced a one-year suspension from the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) following a physical altercation with an assistant referee during an Elite Division match.
ISL 2024-25 campaign off to a tough start
Mumbai City FC, despite being the defending champions, have had a challenging start to the 2024-25 ISL season. In their opening match, they earned a point with a late equaliser against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in Kolkata. However, they suffered a 3-2 defeat in their second game against Jamshedpur FC, and a goalless draw in their home match against Bengaluru FC. Currently, they sit eleventh in the ISL standings with just two points.
The road ahead for Mumbai City FC
With the transfer ban in place and a rough start to the season, Mumbai City FC faces a difficult road ahead. The club will need to focus on getting the best out of its current squad while resolving its transfer situation with FIFA. As the season progresses, key players like Thaer Krouma, who scored the late equaliser in the first game, will be crucial to turning around the team’s fortunes.
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