'A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches is imposed on the player Gael Kakuta while the club Chelsea is banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision.

'Furthermore, Chelsea, has to pay RC Lens training compensation in the amount of 130,000 euros.'

The move is a major shock, but it is not the first time Chelsea's transfer policy has been called into question.

In 2006 Chelsea had to pay 16 million pounds (26.2 million Euros) in compensation - 12 million pounds to Manchester United and four million to Lyn - after signing Nigerian midfielder Mikel John Obi after he had seemingly joined United.

In the same year, the Leeds United chairman Ken Bates called for them to have points deducted after approaches were made to two Leeds youth players, Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods.

A year earlier they had been fined 300,000 pounds for 'tapping-up' Ashley Cole before his move from Arsenal.