Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon says rival clubs are shocked at FIFA transfer ban

Kenyon: Clubs ’shocked’ at Chelsea transfer ban

GENEVA — Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon says rival clubs are shocked that FIFA banned the London club from signing players after it brought French 18-year-old Gael Kakuta from Lens.

Kenyon said Tuesday at a European Club Association meeting that Kakuta was also stunned that his move in 2007 was judged as a breach of contract.

FIFA last week imposed a transfer ban on Chelsea until January 2011. Chelsea is appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Kenyon says Kakuta is going through a difficult time and needs the club’s support.

He said Kakuta’s move was “in no way” a case of child trafficking — the phrase UEFA president Michel Platini has used to describe international transfers of under-18s.