Post by QPR Report on Feb 4, 2010 18:24:10 GMT
BBC
Court lifts Chelsea transfer ban over Kakuta signing
Kakuta, 18, joined Chelsea from French side Lens in 2007 and made his first-team debut in November 2009.
Chelsea have had their transfer ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after reaching an agreement with Lens over the signing of Gael Kakuta.
A statement on the Cas website said that the two clubs and the player had accepted the player's contract with the French side was not valid.
Thus Kakuta could not have terminated it prematurely, so Chelsea could not be liable for inducing it to be breached.
The Cas said all parties agreed the proceedings would remain confidential.
In September 2009, Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber imposed a four-month ban on the player and banned Chelsea from registering any new players in the next two transfer windows over the case.
606: DEBATE
How did this even get this far if Kakuta was not even contracted to them?
MrBlueBurns
A statement on the club website from chairman Bruce Buck said Chelsea were glad to have resolved the matter amicably.
"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," he said.
"In an act of good faith and with a view to the possibility of future collaboration with Lens, and without recognising any liability, Chelsea has agreed to pay compensation costs for the training given to the player while at Lens, as mandated by Fifa in its original ruling."
Kakuta joined Chelsea in 2007 and finished his first season at the club as the youth team's top scorer, winning the academy's player of the year award.
In his second season, he broke into the youth and reserve teams before suffering a double fracture of his ankle in February 2009.
Chelsea lodged an appeal against the original Fifa ruling, allowing Kakuta to make his first-team debut in the 4-0 win over Wolves at the end of November.
newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8499169.stm
