FIFA hit Greenock Morton with transfer ban over 'admin error'

Greenock Morton have blamed an admin error after they were hit by a transfer ban by world football’s governing body.

The Championship club are unable to make any new signings as part of the punishment handed to them by FIFA.

They revealed on Thursday that the ban has been in place since March but say they are hopeful the issue will be resolved by the summer.

Morton say the issue stems from an administration error that is no fault of their own after they never received the correct access to submit information.

A statement said: “The club can confirm we are currently working with football’s governing body, FIFA, to resolve an administration error leading to a temporary registration ban placed on the club.

“Following the club’s requests earlier in the year to obtain the access required from FIFA to submit information as part of our compliance, the club did not receive the access required to complete the relevant process and subsequently have been issued with the ban as the documentation was then not submitted on time.

“Over the last number of weeks, the club has been in close dialogue with FIFA counterparts and have been given clarity that the issue is to be resolved by mid-May after giving us access to submit the required documentation and a clear timescale of the time required to approve the documents.

“This does not impinge on plans for the summer transfer window as new players cannot be registered until June, when the next transfer window opens.

“This also does not impinge on our ability to renew contracts of players already at the club, whose contracts expire this summer.”