Chelsea are under investigation by FIFA for a third time in 8 years over a potential breach of the regulations that relate to the signing of foreign players under the age of 18.

The Premier League champions have said that they comply with "All FIFA statutes & regulations when recruiting players" but the world governing body has been alerted to alleged bad behavior & they says it is looking into it.

FIFA rules prohibit the international transfer of players under the age of 18 except their parents have emigrated for reasons not connected to football or both the player & club are based within 50km of a national border.

In those cases, clubs must still make sure that the player continues his education & studies for an alternative career, plus making sure he has a high living standard.

Atletico Madrid are under a transfer ban for breaching FIFA rules over the signing of minors.

Chelsea have been investigated twice before over their signing of minors.

They were banned from signing players for two transfers windows in 2009, over their conduct in the deal that took the attacking midfielder Gaël Kakuta from Lens to Stamford Bridge in 2007, even though the penalty was upturned on appeal.