Is a two-window transfer ban disproportionate to the Blues’ crime?
Chelsea have said that they will “mount the strongest appeal possible” against FIFA’s decision to ban the club from transfer activity until January 2011. Evidently, they feel that the punishment does not fit the crime of coercing French teenager Gael Kakuta into breaching his contract.
Most newspapers seem to be revelling in the ruling (”JUSTICE AT LAST”, declare The Sun) reasoning that Chelsea are finally receiving comeuppance for years of tapping up and dodgy transfer dealings.
On the other hand, it can also be argued that they are being made an example of by football’s governing body. Much like Eduardo, they find themselves singled out for a problem that is apparently rife in the beautiful game.
We won’t be surprised in the least if Chelsea have their punishment reduced (Roma and Swiss side Sion have had similar transfer bans imposed on them in recent years, and had them reduced and frozen respectively), but as things stand, is the punishment too harsh? Let us know your thoughts below…
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6 responses so far
1 TottenhamBlog // Sep 4, 2009 at 9:27 am
No, it’s the funniest thing that FIFA have ever done and they should stand by their hilarious decision.
2 MattyDub // Sep 4, 2009 at 9:29 am
I think it may help Chelsea in the long run, as it could force them to pull their fingers out and setup a real youth policy
3 Ben // Sep 4, 2009 at 9:49 am
If I was a fan of a top 4 club I would’nt be gloating too loudly, they got Chelsea today, they,ll be after your club next. The ” integrity of football” what a totally ridiculous concept.
4 Alfred // Sep 4, 2009 at 9:50 am
Ask the player whether he wants to remain playing for the club in the first place. Also if he thinks it is wise to change. He has the rights to make his choice. If the club is good enough for him to deny any option to change he will not change.If he is inclined to change will he has the heart to continue playing for the club.
5 Delboy Dublin // Sep 4, 2009 at 10:45 am
Lest we forget, this isn’t the first time Chelsea have done this. They did exactly the same thing with Jon Obi Mikel & were both punished and warned accordingly. There’s no point in fining a super-rich club by way of punishment, so this is both a fair & innovative approach. That said, FIFA are weaker than a French soldier’s discipline, so they’ll probably overturn it on appeal
6 Ben // Sep 4, 2009 at 11:38 pm
So Delroy Dublin, factual innacuracies and racism all in 1 post, quite an achievement.I would suggest you read up on both the Obi Mikel case where Chelsea were in fact the wronged not wrong doers and the relative success of the French Army in battle over the years compared to say the British or German