LONDON:England's Premier League (EPL) announced today they had placed a transfer embargo on basement club Portsmouth.

The ban means the club will not be able to bring any new players to Fratton Park until further notice. Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said: "We can confirm that there is an embargo on Portsmouth registering any new players."

It is understood the ban has been imposed because of issues regarding outstanding payments to other clubs over transfers. No professional club can sign a player on a full-time basis outside of the transfer 'windows' sanctioned by FIFA. The next window is in January.

The ban was announced just 24 hours after Portsmouth won against top-flight opposition for the first time this season, beating Stoke City 4-0 to reach League Cup quarter-finals. That victory was a rare highlight for Portsmouth, who have been best by off-field problems all season to set alongside their poor form.

Earlier this month, British revenue authorities announced that Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie was set to be prosecuted over tax evasion charges relating to the transfer of midfielder Amdy Faye from French club Auxerre for £1.5 million ($2.49 million) in August 2003.

Portsmouth have had two owners in a matter of months after Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who only took over the club in August, sold a majority stake to Saudi businessman Ali Al-Faraj on October 6 after failing to pay the players' September wages. Al-Faraj was reported to have supplied the £5 million bridging loan needed to pay the wages of club staff.