FIFA ban a blow for Chelsea, says Ballack

Germany – FIFA’s decision to ban Chelsea on registering new signings until 2011 was a setback for the club, Blues midfielder Michael Ballack said Friday.

“It’s a blow for us. It’s a drastic punishment,” Ballack said at a news conference in Cologne ahead of Germany’s friendly international against South Africa on Saturday.

The Germany captain said it remained to be seen whether the sanction on Chelsea, who have filed an appeal, would remain.

“It’s not a pleasant situation for the club,” he said.

Ballack, 32, has a one-year contract which keeps him at Chelsea until 2010, and could possibly benefit from the ban, but said he did not want to link his personal situation with the club’s predicament.

World governing body FIFA imposed the ban on Chelsea for inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to break a contract with Lens.

Kakuta, who is now 18, joined Chelsea from Lens two years ago, prompting the French club to report them to FIFA.