For the time being, 1. FC Köln is allowed to sign new players again. The International Sports Court Cas has suspended the FIFA transfer ban for the time being. It remains to be seen for how long.

The International Court of Arbitration for Sport Cas has suspended the transfer ban against 1. FC Köln until the appeal has been decided, according to the Bundesliga club. “This means that FC is able to act in preparation for the 2023/24 season,” the Cologne club announced on Friday evening. It is “currently not possible to predict” when the appeal ruling can be expected.

The background is the transfer dispute between FC and NK Olimpija Ljubljana over talented striker Jaka Cuber Potocnik. At the end of March, the world governing body FIFA had imposed a transfer ban for two transfer periods as well as a fine due to alleged misconduct by the Bundesliga club in signing the 17-year-old young striker in January 2022. Both Cologne and the Slovenian club, which is demanding higher compensation, and Potocnik himself had appealed to the Cas against this.

“The transfer ban against FC thus does not come into effect for the time being following the suspension of the penalty by the Cas,” Cologne wrote. “The same applies to the sentence against Jaka Potocnik. The four-month match suspension of the junior striker is also suspended.”

FC managing director Christian Keller said the decision was “important for us. Now we can be active on the transfer market within our limited possibilities due to economic consolidation.” He added, however, that the club knows “that the punitive suspension is only a first step towards preventing the transfer ban. We will therefore continue to work hard to avert the FIFA ruling completely.”

The signing of Leart Paqarada (28), which took place at the beginning of January, would stand. The left-back will be allowed to transfer from FC St. Pauli to Cologne in the summer and will also receive a playing permit.