Non-League side given signing embargo days after star hands club World Cup windfall

May 16, 2026 - 18:00

Braintree Town have been hit with a transfer embargo by the National League.

This comes only days after they were celebrating the news that they would receive a financial windfall from FIFA.

Tommy Smith of New Zealand controls the ball during the international friendly match between Peru and New Zealand — Smith has made 56 appearances for his country

It has been a wave of emotions for the Essex outfit after they endured a brutal season that saw the club finishing 23rd and suffer relegation to the National League South.

A beacon of hope emerged after New Zealand manager Darren Bazeley confirmed his 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup.

He named Braintree’s centre back Tommy Smith in the group alongside Premier League star Chris Wood.

FIFA give compensation to clubs for releasing their players for their tournaments, which guarantees them a financial injection.

Even if New Zealand are knocked out in the group stage, Smith’s 16-day involvement will secure the club a minimum of £128,000.

But before the tournament could even start, the National League struck.

Braintree Town’s statement on transfer embargo

In an official club statement, Braintree confirmed they have been placed under an embargo.

“The Club can confirm that we have been placed under a player signing embargo by the National League,” the statement read.

“While the Club budgeting for last season was in accordance with league rules, a number of key factors have left the Club with a shortfall: over-spend of the playing budget; bad debts from sponsors; Money owed by The FA for players salaries who played international football eighteen months ago; and poor results which have seen a big drop in attendances and associated gate, clubhouse and sales & marketing income.

“The Club is committed to paying what is outstanding and is currently looking to secure investment and may yet receive additional league central funding, windfalls from player inclusion in the World Cup and transfer sell-on fees, but we are still waiting to see when these will be available.”

Tommy Smith #24 of New Zealand and Darren Bazeley, Head Coach of New Zealand talk prior to the International Friendly match between Colombia and New Zealand — Smith played for England at U17 and U18 level

Braintree are currently sitting on a guaranteed six-figure asset, yet they are banned from entering the transfer market to replace the players who cost them their fifth-tier status.

The club has reassured fans that they are committed to the outstanding debts, noting they are waiting on ‘windfalls from player inclusion in the World Cup’ to help balance the books.

However, the problem is that nobody knows exactly when FIFA will distribute the funds.

For Smith, a historic tournament awaits, marking a 16-year return to the world stage for his country.

The 36-year-old featured on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs on Friday and said: “It will be my second World Cup after 2010 in South Africa and the next one has been a long time coming.”

He added: “It’s going to be an interesting World Cup, hopefully everyone is careful and remember it’s a football tournament and not a political battlefield.

New Zealand's Tommy Smith reacts after being given a red card during the football match between New Zealand and China — Smith will hope the All Whites can go unbeaten at the World Cup like they did in 2010

“Hopefully the players can feel as safe as possible and can do the best job possible on the pitch.

But back in England, the Iron face a desperate race against time to unlock their World Cup payment before the embargo completely derails their hopes of a swift return to the National League.