Chelsea’s transfer ban lifted

(GSM) – Premier League side Chelsea have been cleared of any malpractice over the signing of Gael Kakuta and are no longer banned from signing players.

The Blues were hit with an 18-month transfer ban in September after Fifa ruled that they were guilty of inducing Kakuta, then 16, to break a contract with Lens back in 2007.

Chelsea appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and it was decided that the ban would be suspended, allowing the club to bolster their squad in January.

CAS has now ruled that Chelsea did not break any rules over the signing of Kakuta and the embargo has been lifted entirely.

A statement from CAS read: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued an award today ratifying the agreement reached by Chelsea FC, Racing Club de Lens and the French football player Gael Kakuta, putting an end to this arbitration procedure which also involved Fifa.

“The CAS has noted that, in the agreement, the two clubs and the player have recognised that the contract between the player and RC Lenswas not valid.

“Accordingly, the player could not have terminated it prematurely and without just cause and FC Chelsea cannot therefore be liable for inducing a breach of contract.

“As a consequence, in light of these new circumstances, the sanctions imposed upon Chelsea FC and the player by the Fifa Dispute Resolution Chamber had to be lifted.”

If CAS had decided that Chelsea were guilty of inducing Kakuta they would not have been able to bring in players for the next two transfer windows.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti nevertheless insisted he was happy with the squad available to him and opted not to sign anyone before Monday’s deadline.

He will be delighted to have the option to sign players when the window reopens in the summer and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has explained that he was always confident the dispute would be resolved in such a way.

“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,” Buck told the club’s official website.

“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 FC chief executive Ron Gourlay added: “Naturally, we are pleased Chelsea has been cleared of any wrongdoing and that the matter is now closed.”