CHELSEA were accused of 'stealing' French wonderkid Gael Kakuta last night after being hit with a 16-month transfer ban.
The Blues were found guilty of inducing Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in an historic ruling by FIFA.
And Premier League champions Manchester United could be next, after being reported over how they signed Le Havre prodigy Paul Pogba.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will be stunned by the poaching verdict, which means boss Carlo Ancelotti cannot register any new players during the next two transfer windows - or until January 2011.
Furious Lens president Gervais Martel said: "They stole the lad off us when he was 16. He was at our place since the age of 8½. It's a logical decision. Unfortunately, 95 times out of 100 it's English clubs who come and help themselves.
"Chelsea behaved unacceptably by contacing the player before he was even 16 and in our youth academy."
Midfielder Kakuta, now 18, signed for Chelsea in 2007 while under contract to Lens.
The French club complained and Chelsea were yesterday found guilty of 'inducing' Kakuta to breach that contract by FIFA's Dispute Resolution body.
The Blues plan to fight the decision and sentence at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Kakuta is suspended by FIFA from playing for the next four months.
Meanwhile, minnows Le Havre have accused United of offering 'large amounts of money' to ex-French Under-16 captain Pogba's parents before the player's move to Old Trafford last month.
United vehemently deny the accusations but could face the same charges as Chelsea over Kakuta.
The Red Devils claim they were within their rights to sign the player, as he had not signed any legally binding Le Havre contract.
A United spokesman said: "These claims are complete nonsense.
"Everything has been done within the UEFA guidelines."
UEFA chief Michel Platini said of the Chesea ban: "This could be a start for putting in place regulations covering the movement of young players."
The Blues were found guilty of inducing Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in an historic ruling by FIFA.
And Premier League champions Manchester United could be next, after being reported over how they signed Le Havre prodigy Paul Pogba.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will be stunned by the poaching verdict, which means boss Carlo Ancelotti cannot register any new players during the next two transfer windows - or until January 2011.
Furious Lens president Gervais Martel said: "They stole the lad off us when he was 16. He was at our place since the age of 8½. It's a logical decision. Unfortunately, 95 times out of 100 it's English clubs who come and help themselves.
"Chelsea behaved unacceptably by contacing the player before he was even 16 and in our youth academy."
Midfielder Kakuta, now 18, signed for Chelsea in 2007 while under contract to Lens.
The French club complained and Chelsea were yesterday found guilty of 'inducing' Kakuta to breach that contract by FIFA's Dispute Resolution body.
The Blues plan to fight the decision and sentence at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Kakuta is suspended by FIFA from playing for the next four months.
Meanwhile, minnows Le Havre have accused United of offering 'large amounts of money' to ex-French Under-16 captain Pogba's parents before the player's move to Old Trafford last month.
United vehemently deny the accusations but could face the same charges as Chelsea over Kakuta.
The Red Devils claim they were within their rights to sign the player, as he had not signed any legally binding Le Havre contract.
A United spokesman said: "These claims are complete nonsense.
"Everything has been done within the UEFA guidelines."
UEFA chief Michel Platini said of the Chesea ban: "This could be a start for putting in place regulations covering the movement of young players."