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…

Blues found guilty of inducing breach of contract

Chelsea won’t be able to register any new players in the next two transfer windows as UEFA have found them guilty of inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens.

The 18-year-old winger joined Chelsea in 2007, and was the youth team top scorer and academy player of the year in 2007/08. He has been held “jointly and severally liable” in this case.

A statement on the FIFA website reads:

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.