CAS lifts ban on Chelsea over transfers
Source: Agencies |
February 6, 2010, Saturday
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SPORT'S highest court ruled that a FIFA transfer ban on Chelsea signing players must be lifted.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Thursday Chelsea and French club Lens had reached an agreement in their dispute over teenager Gael Kakuta's move to England in 2007.
CAS said the clubs agreed Kakuta did not have a valid contract with Lens and so could not have breached any rules when he joined Chelsea.
"In light of these new circumstances, the sanctions imposed upon Chelsea and the player by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber had to be lifted," CAS said in a statement.
FIFA had barred Chelsea from conducting any transfer business until January 2011 -- through two consecutive transfer windows -- though that penalty was frozen by CAS in an interim ruling until it reached a final verdict.
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said the clubs had reached an "amicable resolution," at the end of a case that had the potential to severely damage coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad-building plans.
"We are pleased to have come to an amicable resolution of the matter and that it has been ratified by CAS and recognized by FIFA," Buck said. "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."
Thursday's CAS ruling also frees Chelsea of a FIFA order to pay Lens 780,000 euros (US$1.07 million) in compensation. However, Buck said Chelsea would pay a 130,000 euros (US$179,000) fee to Lens which had been ordered by FIFA to reimburse the French club's costs in nurturing Kakuta.
Kakuta, a France youth international, is now cleared of the threat of serving a four-month ban which had been ordered by FIFA.
FIFA's disputes panel imposed the punishments last September after Lens appealed to the governing body. Ligue 1 club Lens said in a statement it was pleased with the agreement "financially and technically".
Agreement
"RC Lens have steadily worked to reach an agreement between all parties and this decision gives us recognition for the quality of our youth academy and it offers the possibility to have a technical cooperation with one of the greatest European clubs," the French club said on its Website.
In an unrelated development, national team manager Fabio Capello returned to England late on Thursday to determine whether Chelsea captain John Terry can also lead the national team amid a sex scandal.
Capello refused to answer reporters' questions about Terry's future on Thursday as he returned to London's Heathrow Airport from Switzerland, where he has been recovering from a knee operation.
Capello was set to meet Terry later yesterday for the first time since allegations were made that the defender had a relationship with England teammate Wayne Bridge's former partner. Ahead of the World Cup later this year, the Football Association has left the final decision on the captaincy to Capello.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Thursday Chelsea and French club Lens had reached an agreement in their dispute over teenager Gael Kakuta's move to England in 2007.
CAS said the clubs agreed Kakuta did not have a valid contract with Lens and so could not have breached any rules when he joined Chelsea.
"In light of these new circumstances, the sanctions imposed upon Chelsea and the player by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber had to be lifted," CAS said in a statement.
FIFA had barred Chelsea from conducting any transfer business until January 2011 -- through two consecutive transfer windows -- though that penalty was frozen by CAS in an interim ruling until it reached a final verdict.
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said the clubs had reached an "amicable resolution," at the end of a case that had the potential to severely damage coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad-building plans.
"We are pleased to have come to an amicable resolution of the matter and that it has been ratified by CAS and recognized by FIFA," Buck said. "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."
Thursday's CAS ruling also frees Chelsea of a FIFA order to pay Lens 780,000 euros (US$1.07 million) in compensation. However, Buck said Chelsea would pay a 130,000 euros (US$179,000) fee to Lens which had been ordered by FIFA to reimburse the French club's costs in nurturing Kakuta.
Kakuta, a France youth international, is now cleared of the threat of serving a four-month ban which had been ordered by FIFA.
FIFA's disputes panel imposed the punishments last September after Lens appealed to the governing body. Ligue 1 club Lens said in a statement it was pleased with the agreement "financially and technically".
Agreement
"RC Lens have steadily worked to reach an agreement between all parties and this decision gives us recognition for the quality of our youth academy and it offers the possibility to have a technical cooperation with one of the greatest European clubs," the French club said on its Website.
In an unrelated development, national team manager Fabio Capello returned to England late on Thursday to determine whether Chelsea captain John Terry can also lead the national team amid a sex scandal.
Capello refused to answer reporters' questions about Terry's future on Thursday as he returned to London's Heathrow Airport from Switzerland, where he has been recovering from a knee operation.
Capello was set to meet Terry later yesterday for the first time since allegations were made that the defender had a relationship with England teammate Wayne Bridge's former partner. Ahead of the World Cup later this year, the Football Association has left the final decision on the captaincy to Capello.
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