1. FC Köln are without points, without a coach and without transfers in the next two transfer periods. A commentary on the unique Bundesliga fiasco.

When we look back in a few years, December 21 may go down in history as the day that set 1. FC Köln back several years.

Firstly, the departure of coach Steffen Baumgart after an underground half-season with ten goals and ten points from 16 games. Where months ago it was thought that Baumgart would shape an era in Cologne like Jürgen Klopp once did at BVB, he now faces a new reality.

Instead of the Conference League, it’s all about survival in the Bundesliga. And that with a squad that has not been able to prove that it has any semblance of the quality currently needed to avoid relegation.

New players should therefore be brought in during the winter, but that was the second horror story for the FC on this horror Thursday. Cologne are not allowed to sign any players, not now, not in the summer.

The CAS has confirmed the transfer ban for two transfer periods. The Court of Arbitration for Sport follows FIFA’s arbitration tribunal and has confirmed its ruling in connection with the signing of U19 player Jaka Cuber Potocnik, previously with Olimpija Ljubljana, in January 2022.

In its ruling dated February 1, 2023, FIFA confirmed that the player had breached his contract and also assumed that 1. FC Köln was unable to provide sufficient evidence that it had not incited the player to breach his contract.

Meaning: Even if Cologne is relegated and many players leave, FC may not sign anyone. Exceptions: Players currently on loan, such as keeper Jonas Urbig, are allowed to play for Cologne. Loaned players such as Rasmus Carstensen may be signed permanently. And players whose contracts are due to expire, such as Dominique Heintz, may continue to be employed.

Nevertheless, this is a bad situation for the traditional club, as it is now even more of a revenge that sporting director Christian Keller did not manage to close important construction sites in the summer. There are huge gaps in defensive midfield and up front, which should have been closed in the winter. Now the horror scenario.

Keller said in a recent FC press release: “We have always said that we have always considered the transfer ban scenario and will plan our squad accordingly until the end of the current lockdown.” Which of course does not correspond to reality, as important positions have not been filled. The players Keller has brought in have mostly turned out to be flops.

As a result, Keller will now also become the focus of criticism, as he must take responsibility for large parts of the current fiasco. Sentences like these will certainly not help the FC fans. Keller: “There is always an opportunity in every challenge. It is precisely with this attitude that we will look forward and tackle this challenge.”

However, very few people trust him to overcome this crisis, as he was partly responsible for getting Cologne into this situation in the first place. Troubled times in Cologne, contemplative Christmas look different. Without new players, there is the threat of a drop into the 2nd division. Again, without new players – that has never happened before in the history of the Bundesliga.

And even worse: the transfer ban also applies to the U19s and U17s. Cologne prides itself on its training, which is also being put on hold for the time being. Because if no one comes, the top talents will surely ask themselves whether it makes sense to spend the last years of their training here. You don’t even know where the club should put out fires first.

It would be a good idea for the board to speak up. Because you haven’t heard anything from them in Cologne for a long time…