On Thursday, FIFA announced a ban on Brazil's Santos FC, preventing the club from making new player signings for three transfer windows. This sanction stems from a financial obligation related to the transfer of central defender João Basso from the Portuguese club Arouca, with Santos reportedly owing 2.6 million euros. The ban was officially recorded in FIFA's database and comes at a challenging time for Santos, which has faced ongoing financial difficulties for several years.

The repercussions of this ban could be significant for the club, especially considering its recent efforts to strengthen the squad with players like Gabigol, Rony, and Gabriel Menino. Given the sanctions' timing, Santos risks missing out on registering new players, including Uruguayan midfielder Christian Oliva from Nacional. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season in the Brasileirão, the club was keen to reinvigorate its team to secure a more competitive position in the upcoming seasons.

As Santos looks ahead to 2026, the management hopes to stabilize both financially and competitively. The recent recruitments and strategic planning indicate a desire to build a more robust team. However, the existing debt obligations and the FIFA sanctions pose immediate challenges that the club must navigate to ensure its future success in Brazilian football.