Western United Sanctioned by FIFA Over Transfer Irregularities

Pitchside HQ – May 1, 2025

MELBOURNE — A cloud of uncertainty looms over Western United as the embattled A-Leagues club has been officially hit with a FIFA registration ban, prohibiting it from signing players across the next three transfer windows — a sanction that stretches into January 2027.

The club appears on FIFA’s “registration ban list,” a public record tracking clubs temporarily barred from registering new players due to breaches ranging from regulatory violations to unresolved financial disputes. The governing body updated the list on April 30, placing United squarely under scrutiny.

“We are aware of one outstanding matter and we have already put steps in place to resolve this as soon as possible,” a Western United spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.

Sources close to the situation told AAP that the issue stems from a historical dispute rather than any actions tied to the current playing group. The ban, while serious, is reportedly reversible upon resolution of the outstanding matter.

Still, the timing of the sanction couldn’t be worse for a club fighting to maintain competitive credibility. Western United’s A-League Men side, once contenders for the premiership, are in finals contention and remain mathematically capable of finishing in the top two — a position that would secure a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite.

The club’s A-League Women team also reached the finals but bowed out early after a loss to Adelaide United in the elimination round.

Earlier this month, both squads faced delayed wage payments, another signal of mounting financial instability. Although payments have since been made, the episode underscored ongoing challenges behind the scenes.

Owned by the Western Melbourne Group, United entered the A-League Men competition in 2019 as part of a broader expansion strategy. But recent months have brought persistent rumors of fiscal troubles, raising questions about the sustainability of the club’s model.

United officials remain optimistic, hinting repeatedly that new investment is imminent — widely believed to be from American backers poised to enter the ownership fold.

Not Alone in Sanctions

Western United isn’t the first A-Leagues club to feel FIFA’s disciplinary weight. Macarthur FC, another expansion side, was temporarily banned from transfers in 2024 following a dispute with former manager Dwight Yorke. That matter was eventually resolved, providing a roadmap United hopes to follow.

With the transfer ban looming, the pressure is now on Western United to secure new financial backing — and fast — to restore operational stability and avoid long-term damage to its football ambitions.