Transfer ban lifted

[Litmanen]

The European Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] has cleared Chelsea over their charges of "inducing" Racing Club de Lens' midfielder Gael Kakuta, and the lengthy ban the club faced from entering the transfer market has duly been lifted.

CAS overturned the transfer ban on the grounds that Chelsea and French teen Kakuta could not be found to be in breach of contract, as the player's deal with Lens was "not valid".

A CAS statement read: "CAS has issued an award today ratifying the agreement reached by Chelsea, Racing Club de Lens and the French football player Gaël Kakuta, putting an end to this arbitration procedure which also involved FIFA.

"The two clubs and the player have recognised that the contract between the player and RC Lens was not valid. Accordingly, the player could not have terminated it prematurely and without just cause and Chelsea cannot therefore be liable for inducing a breach of contract."

It continued: "The sanctions imposed upon Chelsea and the player by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber had to be lifted."
A statement by club chairman Bruce Buck released on Chelsea's official website added: "We are pleased to have come to an amicable resolution of the matter and that it has been ratified by CAS and recognised by FIFA.


"It was always our intention to work together with Lens to reach this end, and both clubs have strengthened their relationship as a result of resolving this case to everyone's satisfaction.

"In an act of good faith and with a view to the possibility of future collaboration with Lens, and without recognising any liability, Chelsea has agreed to pay compensation costs for the training given to the player while at Lens, as mandated by FIFA in its original ruling."

Chelsea were surprisingly quiet during the winter transfer window considering they faced the prospect of an imminent ban in Spring, and despite being linked with a clutch of Europe's premier footballers including Bayern Munich star attacker Franck Ribery, Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero and AC Milan wonderkid Alexandre Pato, the club remained inactive.

Speculation surrounding whom the club will sign in the summer now their ban has been lifted has been rife, and the media expect Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti to continue to pursue his interest in Pato, the exciting Brazilian striker whom he coached at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. -cas

[Chelsea4thewin]

a good day for world football

[King Of East]

Great news & I was quite confident we would win it. The club must have known we would win too otherwise we definitely would have splashed out last month.

[ozzie owl]

Predictable outcome G14 clubs make own rules.

[King Of East]

Predictable outcome G14 clubs make own rules.

Outcome was made because we weren't at fault!

[Le King]

Shocking, to ban them till 2011 and then over rule it
as drobga said, a fkn disgrace

[King Of East]

Shocking, to ban them till 2011 and then over rule it
as drobga said, a shiraz disgrace

What the problem was to begin with was, we weren't given the chance by FIFA to state our case & we were just banned on Lens testimony. Once we appealed & then stated our case it was then proven that we were not at fault. So really it is a disgrace from FIFA.

[slowcoach]

Predictable outcome G14 clubs make own rules.

There isn't a G14 anymore, also Chelsea were never part of G14.