Chelsea Transfer Ban Could Spell End Of This Year's Title Run

They've up and done it now, haven't they?

I can't really decide what's more surprising about this Chelsea transfer ban -- that the club was actually this stupid, or that FIFA had the stones to effectively break the legs of one of the continent's biggest clubs.

Beyond the simple shock that we've found a governing body of sport with an actual spine, this really couldn't come at a worse time for Chelsea.

They've flown out of the gate this season, thanks primarily to the newfound ability of Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka to meld at the point of attack. But creeping age, like a jilted lover, is inescapable, and Chelsea have got it.

The average age of a player in the Chelsea starting 11 so far this season has been 29.1, and that number rises to 29.4 if Deco replaces Florent Malouda.

By comparison, Manchester United's average Starting XI age this season is a paltry 25.5, and that number is just 25.8 for fellow title rivals Liverpool. Even substituting more seasoned players currently out with injury—Edwin Van Der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Alberto Aquilani, Fabio Aurelio—only pushes those numbers to 27.4 and 26.9, respectively.

Chelsea are certainly due for a makeover: Drogba is 31, and so is Frank Lampard. Anelka is 30, Michael Ballack is 32. The youngest player in the XI is Michael Essien, at 26. Five of the 11 players are 30 or older, and only two are younger than 28.

It has been suggested—in various places at various times—that Chelsea's age might be their own greatest title obstacle, and that as the season wears on, their older legs will tire, and perhaps weaken.

It would stand to reason that, after spending a summer chasing players named Aguero, Pato, or Ribery, and landing none of them, Carlo Ancelotti's troops might need some reinforcement come January.

That is no longer an option.

Chelsea do have the power of the appeal, if they lodge it within the next 10 days. And given precedent (Roma had a similar ban shortened in 2004), there's a good chance this won't last until January 2010.

The fact remains that it's highly unlikely that help is on its way this season, and with a bench that's got a price tag far higher than its production rate, Chelsea probably could have used some of that come January.

Every season of every sport comes with setbacks and lucky breaks and most importantly, injuries. This is a setback. Lessening the punishment on appeal would be a lucky break.

Given recent developments, injuries would be a death blow to Chelsea's title hopes.