Portsmouth hopes of clearing debts by player sales this month could be hampered by FIFA's draconian transfer laws.

Portsmouth's plans to cash in on their playing assets to help pay off debts could be hampered by Fifa rules that prohibit players appearing for more than two clubs in the same season, says The Times.

The Premier League confirmed that, short of the player launching a personal appeal on the ground that 31 minutes on the field at the Keepmoat Stadium should not restrain his trade, the only other possibility would be for a club to buy the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng, then loan him back to Portsmouth - an extreme and unlikely act of philanthropy.

The same rule would prevent the resale of Tommy Smith, who made five appearances for Watford this season before signing for Portsmouth.