On February 4, 2010, Chelsea Football Club entered into a “confidential” Settlement Agreement with RC Lens that lifted the ban imposed on Chelsea by FIFA of registering any new players for two successive transfer periods. Considering the amount of personnel turnover at the top clubs these days, such a ban could potentially cripple a club’s success. FIFA initially imposed the ban on Chelsea until the January 2011 transfer window as a disciplinary sanction for improperly inducing former RC Lens player Gael Kukuta to breach his contract and transfer to Chelsea. In November 2009, Chelsea appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (”CAS”) and the CAS Panel stayed the ban pending the outcome of Chelsea’s appeal. (more…)
