Chelsea appeal against transfer ban

Chelsea asked Thursday for the transfer ban imposed upon them by world football governing body FIFA to be suspended in a bid to sign new players during the January transfer window.

English Premier League side Chelsea have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne against a ban which prevents the London club from signing any new players until January 2011.

They have also requested the ban be suspended until the outcome of the appeal is known, with a decision expected in November.

The ban was imposed by FIFA in August when its Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) concluded the Blues had induced promising French youngster Gael Kakuta to break his contract with his first club Lens.

A statement on the official CAS website said: “Chelsea Football Club and Gael Kakuta have filed appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision issued by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009.

“Both Chelsea FC and Kakuta have requested that the FIFA decision be stayed pending the outcome of the CAS arbitration. A decision concerning the request for a stay is likely to be issued by the CAS at the beginning of November.”

Kakuta, who was also banned from playing for four months, is also appealing against his FIFA suspension.