Sepp Blatter threatens clubs who illegally poach players with points deduction

Sepp Blatter has warned clubs who illegally poach players in the future could face a points deduction.

Chelsea were last week banned from signing players until Jan 2011 after being found guilty of illegally inducing 16-year-old Gael Kakuta to leave Lyon in 2007.

Chelsea have appealed but Blatter believes that, after that case is decided, clubs who induce players to leave teams illegally should be hit "where it hurts", by having points deducted. The Fifa president also believes such a sanction should be imposed against clubs whose fans are involved in hooliganism or racism. 

Blatter, who was in Cardiff on Wednesday to open the Football Association of Wales's new training complex at the Vale of Glamorgan, has urged national associations to have the "courage" to take such drastic action.

"It is so right when you speak about taking points away," said Blatter, who referred to another case unrelated to Chelsea, adding: "We have already seen the reaction of a club who have said a player is registered with them but not as a professional player; he is only an amateur. This will not help because it's a question of age and not a question of if he has a contract or not."

Blatter believes serious crowd violence and cases of racism could also be dealt with harshly, but it would take a change in rules for such a harsh decision to be taken.

"The other day there was a big fight in Switzerland because the two leading clubs last season, Basle and Zurich, were not behaving well. In my opinion to have a match without spectators you punish football. You don't punish the clubs. You punish football. I would take one point away from each one and then it would be finished and there would be no more problems.

"Take racism. If there is a fine of £100,000 or £200,000, you will always find someone that pays the fine. But if you take away points then this will be an example.

"The national associations must have the courage to do so and then you will stop that. You have to touch them were it hurts. Take away points and you will see it is finished."

Blatter's feelings come following a call from Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey, who claimed it was time to consider a points deduction for such crimes.

Blatter highlighted the concern around the world when he added: "Recently I met Luiz Lula, the president of Brazil, to discuss the 2014 World Cup, and at the end of the meeting he told me, 'Please stop the exodus of our young players. Stop it. Let them stay here'." 

By John Ley