FIFA Issues Warning to FC Sion Over Overturned Ban

Swiss side FC Sion were subject to a FIFA Warning to the Swiss FA over a ban on signing players imposed on the club before their European qualifier.

FC Sion, unhealthy who travel to Celtic Park on Europa League qualifier duty on Thursday, doctor took the ban to the Swiss courts, symptoms which overturned the earlier FIFA ban, imposed as punishment for inducing a player to break his contract.

Fifa’s rules are clear, clubs in member associations cannot revert to civil courts to challenge a penalty imposed by their association or an international association.

Today, Tuesday 16 August, FIFA said, “FIFA and Uefa, in a letter sent on 10 August, underlined the strict application of the regulations and informed the Swiss Football Association that they are expected to comply with them and to take the necessary measures to respect them.

“FIFA does not put any pressure on the Swiss Football Association but, jointly with UEFA, only refers to existing regulations.”

If Sion play any of the six players they registered this summer against Celtic on Thursday they expose themselves to disqualification from the tournament, with Celtic being awarded the tie, irrespective of the result.

Sion would be foolish to risk FIFA’s rath in this way, so chances are the tie will be settled on the field, but it’s far from ideal preparation for an important European tie.