Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers have all been struck with transfer embargoes, after failing to meet the Financial Fair Play rules, the Football League have confirmed. 

Leeds United face a transfer embargo
Leeds United face a transfer embargo

This transfer embargo consequently means that the clubs will be unable to sign any players for the rest of the season.

A statement from the Football League released on Monday morning read: “An initial analysis of Financial Fair Play submissions from the current 24 Championship clubs has indicated that three clubs – Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest – have failed to meet the Fair Play Requirement under the division’s Financial Fair Play rules.

“Consequently, all three will be subject to an ‘FFP embargo’ under Football League regulations from January 1, 2015 for the remainder of the current campaign.

“The Football League is currently in discussions with a number of other clubs over their FFP submissions and will confirm any further FFP embargoes, if any, in due course. It will also now consider submissions from the three clubs promoted to the Premier League and the three clubs relegated to League 1 at the end of the 2013/14 season.

“Blackburn, Leeds and Forest all exceeded the maximum permitted deviation of £8m - consisting of a maximum adjusted operating loss of £3m plus a further maximum of £5m of shareholder investment - during the 2013/14 playing season.

“Each club will have the opportunity to have its FFP embargo lifted at the end of the season by demonstrating that it has stayed within the maximum permitted deviation of £6m (£3m operating loss plus £3m shareholder investment) for the 2014/15 season.”

However, the three clubs are still able to sign free agents and loan players, as long as their is no loan fee attached to the deal.