Chelsea Transfer Ban Suspended

12:06pm UK, Friday November 06, 2009

Chelsea will be able to sign players in the January transfer window.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has suspended a ban imposed on the club until they reach a final decision on the matter.

Chelsea appealled after being banned from signing new players until 2011 by FIFA.

They were found guilty of illegally inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to join the club two years ago.

A statement said: "CAS has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club Ltd and Mr Gael Kakuta in relation to the decision taken by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009. Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter."

No indication has yet been given as to when a court will conclude the matter.

CAS suspend Chelsea transfer ban over appeal

November 6, 2009


The Court of Arbitration for Sport has granted Chelsea's request to suspend their transfer ban pending a final decision regarding their case.


Chelsea were initially handed a FIFA ban over the next two transfer windows after they were found guilty of inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in 2007, but the Blues appealed to CAS against the punishment and, as part of their appeal, requested the transfer ban be 'stayed' until the case had been dealt with.


Now the appeals body have given the London club a lifeline which will allow them to sign players again in January if the final decision is not taken before then.


A statement on the CAS website read: ''The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club Ltd and Mr Gaël Kakuta in relation to the decision taken by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009.


''The FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber imposed, inter alia, a restriction of four months' ineligibility on Mr Gaël Kakuta, and Chelsea Football Club Ltd was banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the next two complete, consecutive registration periods. Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter.''