FIFA have banned Chelsea from registering players for the next two transfer windows.
The embargo follows a contractual dispute surrounding the Blues’ signing of Gael Kakuta from RC Lens in 2007.
The French club had lodged a claim with FIFA which sought compensation for breach of contract from Kakuta and that also requested sporting sanctions to be imposed on both the player and Chelsea for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.
The Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) ruled that such a breach had indeed taken place, and that Chelsea were responsible for inducing it.
As a result, Kakuta, described by Frank Lampard as having 'amazing talent', has been ordered to pay €780,000 to his former club, and a four month restriction on his eligibility to play in official matches for Chelsea has also been imposed.
Chelsea have been banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two consecutive registration periods following notification of the decision. This effectively means that the Blues cannot sign players until January 2011. Harry Redknapp must be quaking in his boots...
