FC Sion continue battle with FIFA following threats towards Swiss FA

By David Gold

December 29 – FC Sion are continuing their ongoing battle with FIFA after world football’s governing body threatened to expel the Swiss Football Association and all its teams from international competition unless the club are punished for breaching a transfer ban.

Sion have been in battle with FIFA and UEFA since they bought and subsequently fielded a number of players purchased during a transfer ban.

The ban relates to the signing of the goalkeeper Essam El Hadary in 2008 and this summer the club bought six players, arguing that their transfer embargo had been served.

FIFA and UEFA disputed this and when a number of the players bought this summer were fielded by Sion against Celtic in a Europa League qualifier they were kicked out of the competition.

Sion fought their expulsion as they had written documentation from UEFA confirming their players could compete in the tie though the same document also suggested that retrospective action could be taken against them.

The Swiss side have continued to fight the ban and won two cases in the Swiss civil courts which forced UEFA to defend their action at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Sion claimed that FIFA and UEFA, both based in Switzerland, had to comply with the ruling of the country’s courts which angered the world governing bodies. FIFA warned that the game was in danger if clubs circumvent CAS and use civil courts to settle sporting matters.

CAS have upheld UEFA’s decision while FIFA last month told the Swiss FA to censure the club or face a ban from international competition, a decision that would threaten the participation of Basle and other Swiss teams in European competition this season.

FIFA want the Swiss FA to dock points from the club for all games in which any of the six players in question were fielded by January 13.

This has put the Swiss FA in a tricky position as they claim not to have any say over the disciplinary commission that must take such a decision.

Sion still plan to appeal the CAS ruling and have threatened to take the matter to the Swiss federal court as well as the European Courts.

On their website, they accuse FIFA of “unacceptable blackmail” and say a punishment from the Swiss FA would “run contrary to their own rules and to Swiss law.”

“The club cannot tolerate seeing other Swiss clubs taken hostage by FIFA,” the statement continued.

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734797867labto1734797867ofdlr1734797867owedi1734797867sni@d1734797867log.d1734797867ivad1734797867