FIFA accuses Chelsea poaching India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

In an historic ruling, FIFA has accused Chelsea FC of poaching players from other clubs during a 16-month transfer ban. The Blues were found guilty of inducing French wonder kid Gael Kakuta to quit his contract with Lens. Premier League champions Manchester United could be next, after being reported over how they signed Le Havre prodigy Paul Pogba. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will be stunned by the poaching verdict, which means boss Carlo Ancelotti cannot register any new players during the next two transfer windows - or until January 2011. The Sun quoted furious Lens president Gervais Martel, as saying: "They stole the lad off us when he was 16. He was at our place since the age of 81/2. It's a logical decision. Unfortunately, 95 times out of 100 it's English clubs who come and help themselves. "Chelsea behaved unacceptably by contacting the player before he was even 16 and in our youth academy." Midfielder Kakuta, now 18, signed for Chelsea in 2007 while under contract to Lens. The French club complained and Chelsea were yesterday found guilty of 'inducing' Kakuta to breach that contract by FIFA's Dispute Resolution body. The Blues plan to fight the decision and sentence at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Kakuta is suspended by FIFA from playing for the next four months.