FIFA witch-hunts Chelsea | This too will pass . . .

I’ve always believed in this ‘us vs them’ theory. Some even say that I bought this theory from Jose Mourinho. May be they’re right but what matters now is if Jose Mourinho was correct. Season after season, we continue to  be reminded of why the football authorities and the powers that be hate Chelsea FC. Honestly I didn’t see it coming. This has come as a shock, from nowhere. FIFA has slapped a two-transfer-window ban on Chelsea for an alleged misconduct in Gael kakuta’s transfer.

Before we go any further, let’s try to understand this better:

1. The ban applies for two transfer windows. It’s not two seasons as some have understood it. So, Chelsea can’t buy in the Jan 2010 and May-Aug 2010. The next purchase can be made only in Jan 2011.
2. We are prohibited from ‘signing new players’. I’d conveniently assume that we are allowed to get players on loan. I’m bloody sure that we are allowed to get players on loan, which should be a welcome relief.
3. Chelsea FC will appeal this decision as strongly as possible. I have a feeling that the intensity of the ban could be reduced after our subsequent appeals.
4. I’d say, this is certainly a lot better than docking of points.

Now, I don’t know what happened in the Kakuta transfer. I don’t know if Chelsea are guilty or not. Irregularities in transfers is something that’s common in football but that’s not an excuse to commit an offence. To give a step-motherly treatment to a certain club and allowing the pioneers to go scot-free is unfair. In Phil McNulty’s words, “If Fifa actually believes Chelsea are the only club guilty of this particular offence in world football, then naivety is being stretched to its furthest point”.

Some rival fans say that we deserved it because we punished Mutu. That’s a childish and silly comment. Mutu made a mistake and he is punished. And if anyone else made the same mistake, they should be treated the same way. That’s what I’m saying here too. If Chelsea is guilty, punish them. Also punish all those big G-14 clubs that pioneered these malpractices and also mastered them. Ah, that brings me to the G-14 discussion. I know this is a FIFA decision but still, do you think such a damning thing would have happened to a G-14 club? How much lobbying would have happened even before the decision was made?

I’m sure Chelsea’s legal department and the battery of lawyers would be working overtime. I’m sure they’ll find a way out. FIFA’s ruling cannot supersede the laws of the European Union. FIFA is just a sports body while European Union is . . well European Union. The ban is in effect an issue of constraint of trade. FIFA can only regulate from a sports point of view, they cannot write a new law or discard a law of the land.

Let’s put this in perspective. I don’t think we’ll be active in the Jan 2010 window anyways. May-Aug 2010 could be a blow. I must say that we’ve got the players to see us through this season. We were done with our transfer activity weeks before the window closed. The current squad is complete and is one which Ancelotti is happy with. If we are not able to buy players in May-Aug 2010, it’s still not a problem. We can get players on loan with an option to buy after 6 months, which would be the Jan 2011 window. Not bad, isn’t? After all, that’s what we did for Anelka. We bought him on loan and quickly converted that into a purchase. Where there’s a law, there’s a loophole. Therefore people, worry not. It will all be fine. The lawyers will have to earn their fees, either on appeal or on finding creative ways to get players on board during the ban. Wouldn’t it be sweet if Kakuta joins the first team after the ban and plays a crucial role in our quadruple this season?

Just when everything seemed to have fallen in place, just when we seemed to settle down, just when we found our rhythm, just when we started to instill fear in the rivals again, this setback is upon us. In a way, this would make the team stronger. The famous siege mentality that TSO brought in, will have to make a reappearance in such times. The Moscow defeat made us stronger. The Ovrebo match made us even stronger. And now, this would strengthen Chelsea rather than weakening it.

So, just chill. We’ll find a way out. If we don’t, Chelsea will hit them hard like a wounded animal. Be afraid, be very afraid!