Kaizer Chiefs have written to Fifa in an attempt to suspend their transfer ban and sign players in the upcoming transfer window because of the delay in their appeal hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Chiefs were handed a ban in February following Fifa’s verdict that they illegally signed Andriamirado ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana from Fosa Juniors in August 2018.

The club have lodged an appeal with CAS in an attempt to overturn the decision, which both Chiefs and Dax believe is wrong.

Safa acting CEO and legal head Tebogo Motlanthe has now revealed that Amakhosi believe the matter would have already been resolved had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic.

Chiefs’ appeal hearing is now scheduled for September and if it is overturned, it would be too late for them to attempt to reinforce their squad.

‘They have written to Fifa saying that Fifa must clear [their matter],’ Motlanthe told Independent Media.

“They are blaming the delay on Covid-19 because normally Cas deals with cases expediently. They just want Fifa to give them some leeway.”

‘That is unethical [signing players and not registering them], but they can just say to the player, “We will engage you and we want to sign you once we are done with our Fifa matter.” That can work,’ he stated.

‘They can’t sign someone and not register him until they are cleared to sign players.’

With the jumbo sale happening at Bidvest Wits, Chiefs are desperate to get a decision from Fifa and not miss out on a number of top players, who could then end up at their closest rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.