CHELSEA TRANSFER BAN SUSPENDED

FIFA banned the Blues from any transfer activity for the next two periods of transfer activity after they were found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with French club Lens.

But the Court of Arbitration for Sport have agreed to suspend their FIFA-imposed ban until a final decision is made, meaning Ancelotti will be allowed to buy and sell as normal in the January transfer market.

A statement from CAS today read: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club Ltd and Mr Gael Kakuta in relation to the decision taken by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009.

“The FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber imposed, inter alia, a restriction of four months’ ineligibility on Mr Gael Kakuta, and Chelsea Football Club Ltd was banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the next two complete, consecutive registration periods. Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter.”

FIFA banned Chelsea for inducing Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens

FIFA banned the Blues from any transfer activity in early September and were told to pay Lens compensation of £118,000.

The club then appealed to CAS against the punishment and, as part of their appeal, requested the transfer ban be ’stayed’ until the case had been dealt with.

CAS are not expected to hear the case until the new year leaving Ancelotti free to deal in the transfer market.