On Monday (March 11), FIFA handed down a third transfer ban to Brazilian club Botafogo. The Rio de Janeiro-based side is now prohibited from registering new players for an indefinite period.
The punishment stems from unpaid debts related to the transfer of Thiago Almada, who now plays for Atlético Madrid in Spain. Botafogo purchased the Argentine midfielder from Atlanta United in 2024 for approximately R$130 million at the time of the exchange rate.
Between December 2025 and February 2026, Botafogo had already been barred from signing players due to the debt with Atlanta United.
### Other Penalties Against Botafogo
The Almada debt is not the only one that has resulted in FIFA sanctions for Botafogo in recent weeks. The club is also behind on payments for the acquisitions of Rwan Cruz (from Ludogorets) and Santi Rodríguez (from New York City FC). As a result of these cases, Botafogo had already been banned from making new signings for the next three transfer windows.
