Sion demand millions in damages as they warn trouble will now start for UEFA

By Andrew Warshaw

September 15 – FC Sion are demanding millions of Euros in compensation from UEFA over the refusal by European football’s governing body to allow them back into the Europa League.

According to Swiss press reports, the club say they will make an initial claim of more than €4 million (£3.5 million/$5.5 million) with the figure eventually rising to tens of millions.

Sion have also threatened to make a criminal complaint against UEFA, whom it accuses of “ruling the world”, after the Swiss courts backed their fight to take Celtic’s place in the competition which starts today.

Sion were expelled from the tournament on September 2 for fielding ineligible players and saw their appeal against the decision rejected by UEFA’s appeals body.

Celtic, who lost 3-1 on aggregate to Sion in the play-offs, were handed their opponents’ place in the group stages and travelled to Spain for their opening match tonight against Atlético Madrid.

A Sion spokesman said: “We sent today a first order to pay to UEFA, and directly to its president Michel Platini, for more than €4 million.

“UEFA believes that it rules the world.

“The law of the jungle couldn’t rule football.

“UEFA now infringes Swiss laws, that means that penal proceedings can be prosecuted.”

Sion have scrapped plans to travel to Madrid, despite the club’s president Christian Constantin (pictured) previously claiming his side might make the trip regardless of the UEFA ruling.

However, they believe they could still be reinstated at a later date and plan to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“We still believe we can integrate the group stage later,” the spokesman said.

“We now wait for damages for the harm.

“An appeal to CAS will probably be made this week.

“We wait for the written judgment and explanations.”

As the dispute continued to bring fresh developments on an almost daily basis, Constantin effectively accused UEFA, based in Nyon between Geneva and Lausanne, of contempt of court.

He told Swiss newspaper Le Matin: “What UEFA have done is to ignore the law of a state and its institutions.

“By violating the decision of a judge, those responsible have aggravated their case.

“For these gentlemen, the real trouble is going to start now.

“It would astonish me too if the justice of this country allows itself to be trampled [on] by an institution subject to Swiss law.”

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