The Blues should be able to trade in the January
transfer window after the Court of Arbitration for Sport agreed to
suspend their FIFA-imposed transfer ban until a final decision is
made in the case of the signing of Gael Kakuta.
It means boss Carlo Ancelotti can step up his hunt for
new recruits such as £40million-rated Sergio Aguero, who scored
twice against his side for Atletico Madrid in midweek.
FIFA banned the Blues from any transfer activity until
January 2011 after they were found guilty of illegally inducing
Kakuta to breach his contract with French club Lens.
Chelsea 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.
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."
CAS are not expected to hear the case until the new
year, which should leave Chelsea free to buy and sell as normal in
January.
Professor Ian Blackshaw, a CAS lawyer, believes the
ruling will enable the west Londoners to enjoy an unimpeded
transfer window in January.
He said: "Until the appeal is finally decided by CAS
the position before the appeal is reversed. That means Chelsea are
free, if they wish to do so, to deal in the transfer market in
January.
"Once all the paperwork is there then it is possible to
hold a hearing. In this case, because it's such an important one, I
imagine there will be an oral hearing rather than a decision based
just on papers.
"In that case it will be possible for Kakuta to present
his version of the facts. "But I don't think we will get an appeal
much before March or even April next year."
