Al Nassr’s transfer ban explained – Why FIFA banned Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. sanctioned?

Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, has been handed an indefinite transfer ban by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), raising concerns in the Saudi Pro League camp.

Nassr was listed on the ‘FIFA Registration Ban List’ on December 19, but the duration of the ban states ‘until lifted’, unlike most clubs, which are banned for a specific number of windows.

Why has Al Nassr been given a transfer ban?

The exact reason for Al Nassr’s transfer ban is not officially known, but mainly the local media in Saudi Arabia are not there Al Riyadhiyahas linked the ban to an unpaid term for the transfer of Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City.

City were reportedly set to receive €9 million from Nassr on 31 August 2025, which did not happen, leading to the sanction against the Saudi side.

Has Al Nassr been banned for a similar reason before?

Yes. In July 2023, just a few months after Ronaldo arrived at the club, Nassr was handed a similar ban over financial irregularities surrounding the 2018 transfer of Nigerian winger Ahmed Musa from Leicester City.

FIFA subsequently found that the club had failed to pay performance-related bonuses worth almost £390,000. The ban was lifted after the club paid almost 2 million euros in reparations.

Is Al Nassr the only Saudi club banned this time?

No, Al Riyadh, Al Shabab and Al Wehda are some of the other Saudi Pro League sides on the transfer ban list. All three have been banned from having three windows.

How can Al Nassr ensure that the ban is repealed?

For Al Nassr, the solution looks quite simple: the remaining contributions are paid. It has done this in the past and could do the same this time.

Published on December 22, 2025