Sports Thread #1 For 9/3/09: Chelsea Banned From Making Transfers Until 2011

Photo of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is obviously not be happy by this stunningly development

This is massive news

Chelsea have been banned from signing any new players until 2011, after Fifa accused them of illegally inducing a French youth-team player to join the club in 2007.

Fifa's dispute resolution chamber today released a statement fining Gaël Kakuta €780,000 following a complaint from FC Lens and finding Chelsea "jointly and severally liable".

"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches is imposed on the player Gaël Kakuta while the club FC Chelsea is banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision," the DRC statement said. "Furthermore, the club, FC Chelsea, has to pay to RC Lens training compensation in the amount of €130,000."

The 18-year-old was voted the scholar of the year by Chelsea's academy staff in 2008, ending the season as top scorer after playing out wide or as an attacking midfielder.

More on this shocking development, and this does seem overly harsh by FIFA for doing this.

It has the feel of a witch hunt, but there will be more on this later.