Blues appeal to suspend transfer ban
CHELSEA have pleaded with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have their Fifa transfer ban frozen until a decision on their appeal hearing is made.
The Blues have been prevented from signing players until January by the world governing body after being found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.
But the Stamford Bridge club launched an immediate appeal and have been told to wait for CAS chiefs to set a date for the appeal hearing.
In the meantime, the Blues have now requested that the transfer ban be put on hold with boss Carlo Ancelotti desperate to strengthen the squad and replace the loss of four players to the African Cup of Nations in January. Kakuta, who was banned from playing for four months and ordered to pay €780,000 compensation under the terms of the punishment, is also appealing.
A CAS statement confirmed: “Both Chelsea FC and Kakuta have requested that the Fifa decision be stayed pending the outcome of the CAS arbitration. A decision concerning the request for a stay is likely to be issued by the CAS at the beginning of November.”
Should Chelsea’s request be granted, Ancelotti will be free to delve into the transfer market in the January window.