An amusing take on the CAS suspension of the Chelsea suspension

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) kindly announced today that they would grant Chelsea’s request for a stay in the club’s transfer ban, meaning Chelsea will now be free to flash the cash in January. Of course their final judgement over the club’s alleged wrong-doing over the signing of Gael Kakuta is still to come, but in the short-term Chelsea will be able to strengthen the squad if Ancelotti feels reinforcements are needed.

I’ll leave the debate about whether and how Chelsea should dip into the transfer market to another time (I have already suggested January isn’t the greatest time to be buying players) but though that the Guardian’s Fiver this afternoon – which reported on CAS’ latest decision – was particularly entertaining.

Worth a read with a conventionally-sized pinch of salt before you log-off your work computer and head to the pub. Enjoy.

With this in mind the Fiver can only applaud today's decision by the Court of Behind Closed Doors Stuffed Around a Groaning Buffet Table Back-Scratching Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to "suspend" Chelsea’s transfer ban. "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club," CAS (CAS) said today, talking about itself in the third person in a manner usually reserved for overly self-important R'n'B singers with sculpted goatee beards. "Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter."

A final decision that, what with assorted filings and ancient, leathery men in gowns leaning back behind their nicotine-riddled leather escritoires and saying things like "a fortiori caveat emptor", now seems likely to take place some time after January. Which would allow Roman Abramovich the whole of the upcoming winter transfer window to kick-start the global football economy by splashing out far too much on a single fashionable pet Russian that he can carry around in a small calf-skin shoulder bag.

This is of course barring the success of any further application to suspend the suspension of Chelsea's ban, which may in turn find itself counter-claimed leading to (a) a stay of the stay of the stay; and (b) everything just sort of carrying on as it always was going to anyway in a world where people with enough money to buy at least four very large yachts basically get to do whatever they want.

Comments

[Josh]

Long comment, but oh well...

Instead of splashing cash in an underwhelming and overpriced january transfer market, shouldn't we (CFC) focus on developing "cheaper" talent? Our youth program for all intents and purposes (Arneson) got us into this mess, shouldn't they at least try to dig us out?

Due to the African Cup of Nations, we will temporarily (assuming we avoid injuries to anyone playing for their nat'l team) lose some players. For Strikers, we'll lose Kalou and Drogs. We JUST acquired Sturridge, shouldn't we use him? Also, put pressure on Di Santo and get him back from Blackburn in January. We'll still have Anelka, who played quite well without Drogba in CL.

As for Essien's absence, Mikel was doing well in his role as well. We have enough midfielders to make it through either way with Ancelotti having to decide between, Essien, Malouda, Mikel, Cole, Lampard, Deco and Ballack.

I'd rather save the cash now in hopes of a ban being lifted entirely, or at the most purchase some cheaper talent on short term contracts in case the ban stands. Any long term contracts need to go to someone UNDER the age of 28, or we'll continue to have a team of dinosaurs and geriatrics.

Either way, c'mon blues, and screw ManUre!