Chelsea transfer ban lifted

I said it here on 23rd October: http://football-thebeautifulgame.blogspot.com/2009/10/chelsea-appeal-to-delay-transfer-ban.html. "It is my forecast that Chelsea will never serve any part of this transfer ban, despite precedents being set for other clubs who have broken the rules in just the same way."

And lo, it has come to pass.

As reported by the BBC yesterday: "Court lifts Chelsea transfer ban over Kakuta signing".

The website report said: "Chelsea have had their transfer ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after reaching an agreement with Lens over the signing of Gael Kakuta. A statement on the Cas website said that the two clubs and the player had accepted the player's contract with the French side was not valid. Thus Kakuta could not have terminated it prematurely, so Chelsea could not be liable for inducing it to be breached. The Cas said all parties agreed the proceedings would remain confidential."

Yes, I'll bet!

Funny how a rich club suddenly comes to an agreement with a not-so-rich club and the agreement "remains confidential". Funny how, all of a sudden Lens accepted that the contract had not been valid. They didn't think that at first!

I sniff something not quite right.