Morning:
8°c
The head of French football today welcomed FIFA's transfer ban on Chelsea and said the ruling would send a message to teams whose illegal actions were ruining football'.
Chelsea will pursue an appeal over the ban on registering players until January 2011 and fine of £682,000 handed down yesterday for tapping up' Lens midfielder Gael Kakuta in 2007.
But French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes expressed his satisfaction at the decision and believes it was a warning to those who want to break the rules on transfers.
“We discussed the Kakuta case and those transfers of young kids which are ruining football,” he said after an FFF meeting this morning.
“We had alerted FIFA and the Football Association about the misbehaviour. We are perfectly happy to see such misbehaviour being sanctioned.”
Chelsea's players were still coming to terms with the punishment today and captain John Terry, asked about the ban during an England news conference ahead of Saturday's friendly with Slovenia, said: “It was a big shock for me, I have spoken to the club this morning and they are appealing over the matter.”
Fellow defender Branislav Ivanovic insisted the club would cope without having to buy any more players as their squad was strong enough.
He said: “I can't comment on the ban but we have a good team capable of challenging for the top honours. We will do our best to live up to the club's ambitions, and we all know what they are.”
There is hope for Chelsea as Italian club Roma successfully appealed against the same two transfer window-ban for a similar offence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and had it reduced to one.
And Matthieu Reeb, secretary general of CAS whose judgement in the matter is final, said Chelsea can expect a decision on their appeal by December.
“If the appeal is fielded within the deadline of the next 21 days we should have the appeal in the next two or three weeks,” he said.
“Then the CAS can proceed in an expedited manner depending on whether the party has agreed to expedite the procedure. But at the very least we will probably issue a decision at the end of November or mid-December.
“We will have a panel of three arbitrators, so three judges. One will be selected by Chelsea the other by FC Lens and FIFA and the chairman will be CAS-nominated.
“It will be a final decision which would replace the FIFA decision if necessary. The CAS decision can be appealed only before the Swiss Supreme Court, which is for the Swiss tribunal.
“There could be a final ruling before Christmas.”
Whatever the result of the appeal, FIFA and UEFA are planning to push through plans to ban all international transfers of players under the age of 18 by the start of next season.
The game's governing bodies — led by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini — have been discussing proposals for months to ensure clubs do not lose their young starlets and the issue was on the agenda at two key meetings this week.
Coaches from around the world, including Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, gathered at the 11th Elite Club Coaches forum in Nyon over the past two days to analyse a host of football's most controversial topics.
In the wake of Arsenal striker Eduardo's two-game European ban for “deceiving the referee” — the Gunners announced their intention to appeal that decision last night — fears of a conspiracy theory against English clubs are understandable but it's more likely both instances are an attempt to set a series of precedents which UEFA and FIFA are now duty-bound maintain.
FIFA have taken steps to create a sub-committee of the Players' Status Committee given specific responsibility of ratifying every international transfer of a player aged 18 or under.
The committee is not yet fully operational but FIFA's Jerome Champagne, director of international relations, outlined the organisation's plans earlier this summer.
He said: “It has come to our attention that increasing numbers of clubs sign numerous players at the age of 15 and 16, because it is relatively inexpensive to bind these players to a contract.
“We want to be sure that talent remains with their home clubs for longer, and that these clubs are properly compensated for their youth work when the player does move on.”
The manner in which Chelsea pursued Kakuta irritated FIFA but they are hardly the first club to poach a young player, although Manchester United insisted today that they had done
nothing wrong in signing Le Havre's 16-year-old midfielder Paul Pogba.
A United spokesman said: “It is complete nonsense. Everything has been done within UEFA guidelines.”
However, Le Havre managing director Alain Belsoeur claims to have documentation showing United offered inducements for Pogba to join them and has vowed to include it in submissions to FIFA.
“We are still pursuing our case,” said Belsoeur.
Reader views (16)
I am a football supporter and have been for the last 5o years. The worsed thing in football in all that time has been Michel Platini, Abbot and Costello. Sorry always get these names mixed up. Some one out vote this Napoleon sorry another comedian's name. Getting tired now mus have a nap. Oh yea! Shut up you silly Frenchman
- Colin Stevens, USA, 04/09/2009 16:55
Report abuse
Forget about raiding clubs for young players who do not have a contract. If compensation is paid, like it was for the two young Leeds players, then, all's fair in love and war and in football terms it's not illegal.
It's when a player is tapped up, 'UNDER CONTRACT' whether that be subtle name mentioning in the media or to one of their connections and the media getting hold of it thus unsettling the player, then that is illegal in football terms and the offender should be taken to the cleaners, fined heavily and banned from the touchline or similar for a season.
Too much of that has happened and SAF, 'Arry and Chelski are at the top of the list of offenders.
What Wenger has done is raiding young players from Europe and thats 'not nice' but it's legal.
Like the diving, illegal tap up's should be dealt with and UEFA are putting the boot in under Platini's watch.
The problem with English football fan's is they don't like Platini because of his Frenchness, but if Stuart Pearse was UEFA president and making these, self same changes, he would be 'football's saviour.
Keep up the good work Platini and we will end up with a level playing field in the not too distant future.
- Kevin, London, 04/09/2009 16:54
Report abuse
This is scurge of small clubs about time something was done Chelsea and Arsenal have stolen youth players from Gillingham in exactly the same manner only to waste and destroy them as players.
Clubs must be limited in the size of their academy's and playing staff only then will the elite clubs be stoppped from destroying English footballing talent entering the game. Not evey big player starts out in the premiership.
Why are Man U allowed to have an academy in Brazil? How is that developing future England players. Why are Arsenal effectivcely a French club playing in England and why are they allowed to get away with it.
Armchair supporters are the absolute worst for this stuff get off your backside and go see you Local club and that doesn't mean Arsenal or Chelsea if you come from south of the river.
- Duncan, Kent, 04/09/2009 16:49
Report abuse
Maybe FIFA ought to look at other leagues rather than the Premiership,I would start with the French! Mind you we know that will never happen.
- John, Watford, 04/09/2009 16:32
Report abuse
Mark, I'm no Arsenal fan but you're comments perfectly illustrate why people hold your club in such high esteem.
You buy the league, you've no class, you disgracefully sacked Ranieri when he was probably the only person at Stamford Bridge with any integrity and you blatantly tap players up whilst thinking you're above the law.
What goes around comes around, but don't worry, you can always get that big fat cheque book out in Jan 2011, that's if you're even still in the top 4 by then...
Well done.
- Richard, London, 04/09/2009 15:53
Report abuse
Rob - Gooner - Nicholas Anelka, Cesc Fabregas and probably about three-quarters of your reserve side. Don't laugh too soon mate - what comes around goes around!! Your managers transfer policy has been to 'nick' young players for the last 10 years!
- Kev, London N1, 04/09/2009 15:42
Report abuse
The gooners should be careful of criticising here too,remember the Cesc Fabregas issue,NOT EXACTLY POPULAR WITH Barca were they??
- Jacko, rickmansworth, 04/09/2009 14:49
Report abuse
About time Chelsea were punished,to long they have ignored and mis-used the rules and conduct of the sports virtues.
Yes,other clubs do it and should be punished in a similar way if found guilty,but Chelsea have got away with it too often..Arnesen,the 2 Leeds youmgsters,(where are they now)?,the Cashley Cole business,the poor boy who could Not get by on 60k a week the Gooners offered him. For too long they have ignored the rules and regulations put in place and used their wealth to their own advantage.
No one is above the game or the laws and this is a welcome ruling, and a warning too others no matter how big they or their club think they are..
- Mark, herts, 04/09/2009 14:46
Report abuse
Hi,
I totally agree with Ian. This is a blatant attempt to let the rest of Europe catch up with the Premier league by placing constraints on our Champions league representatives.
Firstly the "one-off" ban on the Gooners Eduardo, surely we don't see week in and week out the over exagurated diving antics that mar football across the European Continent especially in Spain and Italy.
Secondly we have this transfer ban on Chelsea for tapping, hello UEFA what the hell happened with the protracted saga of Cristiano Ronaldo, oops sorry it was Real Madrid and they always tap so they will get off lightly ( actually this also smacks of Man Who and Berbatov). Another double standard for those continental footballing giants.
Thirdly there's talk of fining Man Who over a similar transfer.. next it'll be Arsenal over Cesc and the list will go on. But when will we see these instances applied to the big clubs representing the other European leagues??
Platini said he wanted to smash the monopoly of the Premier League on European football, but rather than do it by applying the correct rule changes and then applying and enforcing those rules across the game, he wants to go underhand and be sneaky and try to bully the teams out of the competitions.
If it was put to the test I would vote for a European league not governed by FIFA or UEFA ( Bill and Ben in the form of Blatter and Platini) and whole hartedly support a new governing body being formed completely.
- Paul, Spurs Fan, London, England, 04/09/2009 14:39
Report abuse
Rob- Gooner
I don't suppose Arsenal had a deal sorted for Sol Campbell a year before they both stitched-up Spurs?
Clubs should be properly remunerated for bringing-on talent, but this needs to be properly specified. Chelsea trade on the edges of the rules, as do Man Utd and others. That's the way of top business.
Platini is, with the French Sports Minister, looking to safeguard French club interests. Maybe at the same time he could clarify international eligibility rules that seem to indicate that France's catchment area includes half of Africa?
- Fresh, London, 04/09/2009 14:32
Report abuse
So basically if it suits Arsenal you're happy for it to happen Rob but if it happens the other way round it's unfair and you're going to cry.
Pathetic.
- Stu, Beckton, 04/09/2009 13:42
Report abuse
"They seek 'em here, they seek 'em there, those green-eyed Frenchies seek 'em everywhere. Is it in heaven, is it in hell, les damned trop riches English cartel ?" (Apologies to Sir Percy Blakeney).
The plot thickens.
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire, 04/09/2009 13:33
Report abuse
rob that was brillant piece of business and ash is great player thanks
- Mark, london uk, 04/09/2009 12:51
Report abuse
Rob Gooner - Theo Walcott - Southampton. Hope gooners get punished too.
- Dom, London, 04/09/2009 12:48
Report abuse
Firstly I am not a Chelsea fan but It is time for the major clubs to get together to break both FIFA and UEFA forever. These organisations use a voting base built on minor football nations to constrain the evolution of the game. Neither will be happy until they have destroyed the Premier League. The G14 need to form a wider group of say the 36 leading clubs in Europe, then set up a European equivalent of the Premiership and Championship. Both the Premier League and the Championship could choose to remain in FIFA and UEFA structures or leave and continue as national competitions.
By creating the alternative tournament they will be able to end the FIFA and UEFA blackmail and the practice of forcing the clubs who pay players wages to release them whenever the set international matches. Players should have it made clear to them that they have a choice, they can either play for the clubs who pay their wages or they can become amateurs and play for their countries but not both. The players will soon recognise what is in their interests. It would be regrettable that probably a couple of World Cups and European Championships would probably become a shadow of the former tournaments but in time a more reasonable structure would evolve almost certainly including replacement organisations in place of the FIFA and UEFA. The alternative is the gradual destruction of the Premier League and the other leading European leagues.
- Ian, London, 04/09/2009 12:21
Report abuse
Chelsea should have been dealt with when they were blatantly caught talking to Ashley Cole prior to his move to Arsenal. At the time they should have suffered a points deduction, a season's transfer ban & made to pay Arsenal the equivelent of Cole's value to enable them to replace him. The player himself should have been fined the equivelent of the remainder of his earnings under his contract with Arsenal, with this sum going to Arsenal & a season's ban. This would have put a stop to this type of underhand dealing. AS for young players, I have absolutely no objection to them moving between clubs, as long as the clubs concerned are forced to educate the players until they are 16 years of age.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 04/09/2009 11:37
Report abuse
