CAS to hear Chelsea appeal

Chelsea’s appeal against a two-window transfer ban imposed by FIFA is due to come before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on November 20. The ban was imposed on five-time Premier League champions Chelsea back in February for breaking transfer regulations relating to minors, with FIFA saying they found breaches in 29 cases out of the 92 investigated.
The Blues were unsuccessful in overturning the decision when they presented their case to FIFA’s appeals committee in April, meaning they were handed a two transfer-window ban and fined 600,000 Swiss francs, which equated to £460,000 at the time.
Frank Lampard, who took charge at Stamford Bridge in the summer, was unable to sign any new players but the club were allowed to sell individuals, with Belgium international Eden Hazard making the high-profile move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The former Derby County boss, who led the Rams to last season’s Championship play-off final, has opted to give youth a chance during this campaign and his decision has paid off, with the likes of Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Reece James and Tammy Abraham all impressing.
England international Abraham is currently joint-second in the Premier League’s Golden Boot race. with nine strikes, just one behind Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, while Tomori and Mount have both become members of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad.
Lampard having his hands tied in the transfer market could have been the best thing that has happened to Chelsea, who have been one of the biggest spenders in the top flight since owner Roman Abramovich bought the club in June 2003, as the introduction of youth has seen the team climb to fourth in the league.
Documents published by FIFA last week showed its appeals committee found Chelsea had committed 150 breaches of regulations, while the panel agreed with the disciplinary committee that the breaches were “inexcusable”.
CAS will now rule on the issue, with the case listed on its website for November 20.