The bizarre reason why Luke Steele couldn’t sign for Posh last week

Peterborough United failed to re-sign goalkeeper Luke Steele last week because of a bizarre FIFA rule.
Luke SteeleLuke Steele
Luke Steele

Posh wanted Steele as back-up to number one ‘keeper Christy Pym after reserve ‘keepers Dan Gyollai and Will Blackmore fell victim to strict Covid rules.

But the EFL blocked the move because Steele has already played for three different clubs this season, even though they were junior clubs Stamford AFC, Peterborough Northern Star Reserves and Spalding Sunday League side Jubilee FC!

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Posh director of football Barry Fry said: “It’s a FIFA rule apparently. Luke was heartbroken. He was going to join Swindon at one point, but he would have preferred to play for us as he wanted to give something back to the club that started his career, a bit like Matthew Etherington and Simon Davies have done.

“We’d agreed a deal with Luke and we had a shirt with his name and a number on it ready for him, but it all fell through. The only club I knew Luke had played for was Stamford.

“Luke rang the EFL to get clarification, but they said they were bound by FIFA regulations.”

Steele (36), who went to school in Glinton, played twice for Posh as a teenager before Manchester United paid £500k for his services in 2002.