Terry surprised over FIFA transfer ban on Chelsea

Chelsea captain John Terry was surprised that FIFA banned his club from signing any players until January 2011.

The Blues were punished Thursday for encouraging French striker Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens and sign for Chelsea.

"What is my reaction to the FIFA ban? It was a big shock to me and it is very difficult," Terry said Friday at the England traning base. "But it is difficult for me to talk about it. I have spoken to the club last night and again this morning and they have reiterated that I can't speak about it as they are appealing very strongly."

Chelsea said it will "mount the strongest appeal possible" after being told it can't register any new players, from England or abroad, during the next two transfer windows _ in January 2010 and the next offseason.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport indicated Friday that the appeal verdict could be delivered before the end of the year.

Chelsea will be hoping the ban is overturned completely or at least reduced. Italian club Roma was banned from signing players for two transfer windows in 2004 because of irregularities in its acquisition of Philippe Mexes from Auxerre but, after appealing to the CAS, the ban was reduced to one window.

"If the appeal is fielded within the deadline of the next 21 days we should have the appeal in the next two or three weeks," secretary general Matthieu Reeb said. "Then the CAS can proceed in an expedited manner depending on whether the party has agreed to expedite the procedure.

"But at the least we will probably issue a decision at the end of November or mid-December."