The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has sided with UEFA in the unlawful breach of contract of player Jaka Cuber Potocnik and 1.FC Köln's involvement in this meaning a two-window ban for the club.
The club has issued a statement today and revealed the decision was sent on Thursday afternoon.
CAS has identified the termination of Jaka Cuber Potocnik's contract and the joining of 1.FC Köln by the under-19 player as not legally effective.
The 1.FC Köln Sporting Director Christian Keller said in the club's statement: "We would have wished for and expected a different verdict. Accordingly, we are very disappointed that, despite numerous counter-evidence, the CAS classified the termination of Jaka Potocnik as not legally effective and at the same time there is no sufficient evidence of a non-incitement to this termination by the 1st FC Köln has seen. Regardless of this, we now have clarity and the multi-month balance is finally over. We have always said that we have always considered the transfer lock scenario and will design our squad planning accordingly until the end of the now fixed ban. The following applies: There is always an opportunity in every challenge. It is precisely with this attitude that we will look ahead and tackle this challenge."
Source: FC Köln Website