Chelsea FC Given Transfer Ban by FIFA, with Gael Kakuta Suspended

Chelsea Football Club have been banned from registering any new players for both national and international competitions in the next two transfer windows.

FIFA have punished Chelsea due to a complaint made by Ligue 1 club RC Lens over the Blues' signing of young talent Gael Kakuta.

As well as the ban, the Stamford Bridge club also have to pay RC Lens £113,000 in training compensation and have been fined £680,000.

The player involved in the transfer, Gael Kakuta, has also been punished, having been given a four month ban from playing in official football matches.

This decision was made by the world football governing body's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), who have ruled in RC Lens favour and have labelled Chelsea, as well as Kakuta, "jointly and severely liable."

The whole statement from FIFA says: "On the occasion of its last meeting held on 27 August 2009, the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) was called to pass a decision in a contractual dispute opposing the French club Lens to the French player Gael Kakuta and the English club Chelsea.

"The French club had lodged a claim with Fifa seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.

"The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such a breach.

"As a result the player was condemned to pay compensation in the amount of €780,000, for which the club, Chelsea, are jointly and severally liable, and sporting sanctions were imposed on both the player and Chelsea in accordance with art. 17 par. 3 and 4 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches has been imposed on Kakuta. Chelsea are 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.

"Furthermore, the club, Chelsea, have to pay Lens training compensation in the amount of €130,000."

This incredible decision by FIFA has proved to the world that football is finally attempting to seriously eradicate foul play in the game, both on and off the pitch.

It comes a week after Arsenal and Croatia striker Eduardo da Silva was banned for two Champions League matches by UEFA after diving to win a penalty in the Gunners' 3-1 home win over Celtic in the Champions League play-off.

So with such action taken on Arsenal, and now on Chelsea, is football finally getting tough on cheats?