Source: Telegraph
Chelsea's Frank Arnesen in firing line over Fifa ban
Arnesen's role in the signing of Gael Kakuta, the 18-year-old French winger at the centre of the controversy, will come under fierce scrutiny as will that of Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon. [LNB]However it is understood that Arnesen, in particular, pushed for the signing of Kakuta which has led to Chelsea being accused, and found guilty by football's world governing body, of inducing the midfielder to break his contract with his previous club, Lens, in 2007. [LNB] Related ArticlesChelsea not interested in January salesThe Daily Bung: Chelsea ban is Blatter's best gag yetChelsea transfer ban: Q&AWho is Ga?Kakuta?'Chelsea ignored ban warning'Chelsea argue that there was no contract in place and that Arnesen and Kenyon acted properly, but Fifa sources are adamant that they will be able to produce the necessary evidence while Lens have also accused the Premier League club of paying 'a lot of money' to Kakuta's family to encourage him to move to Stamford Bridge. [LNB]Arnesen's position at Chelsea has been under threat before, not least last year when he appeared to be on the verge of leaving, while previous to that he had clashed with Jose Mourinho. Club owner Roman Abramovich, along with his key director Eugene Tenenbaum will demand answers as to how the debacle has happened. Arnesen has proved a great survivor, and was promoted at Chelsea during the summer, becoming more central to the first-team plans, but will need to satisfy Abramovich over this deal. [LNB]Chelsea maintained yesterday that they will definitely appeal Fifa's ruling and will, once they have received the evidence and documentation in the next three weeks, go to the Court of Arbitration in Sport to try and reduce or overturn the ban which includes fines of nearly 1m euros for the club and player and a four-month ban for Kakuta. [LNB]Chelsea captain John Terry yesterday spoke of his 'shock' at the ruling. 'What is my reaction to the Fifa ban? It was a big shock to me and it is very difficult,' he said. 'But it is difficult for me to talk about it. I have spoken to the club last night and again this morning and they have reiterated that I can't speak about it as they are appealing very strongly.' CAS's secretary general, Matthieu Reeb, said yesterday that Chelsea can expect a decision on that appeal by mid-December. 'It will be a final decision which would replace the Fifa decision if necessary,' he said. [LNB]Chelsea will hope to have the sentence reduced, of course, although because CAS appear able to hear the case before January it doesn't seem likely that the club could as previously happened with FC Sion, who faced a similar charge apply for a stay on the penalty allowing them to trade in the winter transfer window. [LNB]Chelsea believe that they are the victims of a witch-hunt given their, previous, fractious relationship with Uefa while the ramifications of the verdict may well be felt throughout Europe's leading clubs. Le Havre cried foul last month over Manchester United's signing of Paul Pogba although they have yet to make a formal complaint. United deny any wrongdoing. [LNB]Yesterday Jean-Pierre Louvel, the club's president, said of the Kakuta verdict: 'It's a strong signal to the England clubs, notably Chelsea, who have yet to understand that there are rules that have to be respected by clubs and by young players. [LNB]'That should make other English clubs think twice before going ahead with this kind of thing. They have to take into consideration the French clubs that have developed these players and invested in them. I hope that Manchester will find themselves with the same problems that Chelsea are now facing. We are in a very similar situation (to Lens).' [LNB]Leading Italian clubs - Lazio, Roma and Fiorentina - have all voiced their displeasure at losing the crown jewels of their youth schemes to United over the past two years, with Sir Alex Ferguson taking Federico Macheda, Davide Petrucci and, most recently, Michele Fornasier. Reggina are also believed to have lodged a complaint with the FIGC, the Italian FA, and Uefa over Chelsea's pursuit of Vincenzo Camilleri, a defender just 15 when he spurned the chance to sign professional terms with the southern Italian club. [LNB]Similarly, Macheda moved to Manchester a day after his 16th birthday and Fornasier had already featured for United in a tournament in Northern Ireland at the age of 15. [LNB]Under UEFA's current regulations, all international transfers are banned of players under the age of 16 unless their parents are moving abroad for reasons other than football. [LNB]
