Robben: Chelsea's big name players will leave the club due to transfer ban

06 September 2009 12:16
Arjen Robben last night predicted an exodus of star names from Chelsea if the club fail in their appeal against FIFA’s 16-month transfer window ban. Robben, who joined Bayern Munich from Real Madrid hours before the deadline , declared himself behind FIFA “if Chelsea are guilty of what they have been punished for”. Robben, who spent three years with the Blues, said: “It would not shock me if players left. Players like John Terry and Frank Lampard love the club, and they will probably stay. “But I think players who have no long-term relationship with the club may leave. The top clubs around Europe will be looking at Chelsea players now, and if they want to leave there is not a lot the club can do to to stop them.” Robben added: “For one of Europe’s super powers not to be able to sign a player for two years would be a disaster. I don’t know if they are guilty, but if they are I agree with FIFA. “Big clubs think they are above the rules, you only need to look at how many times Real Madrid have been accused of tapping players up over the year. “I believed Chelsea would win the title this year, but after this news , I think Manchester United have to be the favourites. There are some fantastic players, but stars like Lampard, Ballack and Drogba will be well into their 30’s if the ban stays in place. “In football there are a lot of people trying to take advantage of you when you are a young boy and it is important that the authorities do all they can to help protect them. “When you hit top clubs with fines it means nothing to them, they probably laugh as they pay up, so the only way to stop it is with punishments such as this or points deduction.”

Source: Daily_Mail