Fifa have today banned Chelsea from signing any new players until 2011.
World football’s governing body took the unprecedented step of banning Chelsea from any transfer activity in the next two transfer windows, following French team Lens’ official complaint over 18 year old Gael Kakuta’s move to Chelsea in 2007.
Chelsea have also been ordered to pay Lens £113,000.
Kakuta, who was a regular in Chelsea’s reserve team last year has also been given a four-month ban and fined £680,000.
It is understood Chelsea ‘tapped up’ Kakuta and actively encouraged him to sever his youth contract with Lens, and join Chelsea for a nominal fee, when he was just 16.
A statement from Fifa said;
“On the occasion of its last meeting held on 27 August 2009, the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) was called to pass a decision in a contractual dispute opposing the French club Lens to the French player Gael Kakuta and the English club Chelsea.
"The French club had lodged a claim with Fifa seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.
"The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such a breach.
"As a result the player was condemned to pay compensation in the amount of €780,000, for which the club, Chelsea, are jointly and severally liable, and sporting sanctions were imposed on both the player and Chelsea in accordance with art. 17 par. 3 and 4 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches has been imposed on Kakuta. Chelsea are banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision.”
Today, a Fifa spokesperson stated: "This decision confirms our aim to ensure contractual stability. It is an important ruling for football in general."
Chelsea have yet to comment on the ruling, but do have the right to appeal to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).
The ban is likely to cause shockwaves throughout world football, and will be seen as a statement of intent from Fifa.
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