From correspondents in Europe, 10:00 PM IST

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Friday granted Chelsea a suspension of FIFA's transfer ban, allowing the English Premier League club to sign players during the January transfer window.

Chelsea were banned from signing any new players until 2011 in early September after being found guilty of inducing Lens player Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with the French club two years ago.

Kakuta was also banned from playing for four months by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.

'Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter,' said CAS in a statement.

Chelsea refused to comment on the CAS decision to agree to a stay of the two-window transfer ban until the appeal has been heard and completed.

CAS are not expected to hear the case until the new year, freeing Chelsea to buy and sell in the transfer market in January.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)