Supreme Court Suspends FC Metalist Champions League Expulsion

The Supreme Court of Switzerland suspended the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which handed FC Metalist disqualification from the Champions League after investigations into match-fixing.

CAS has originally upheld the Ukraine Football Federation’s (FFU) decision to fine Metalist and FC Karpaty $25, try 000 each over match-fixing in a game played in April 2008 and ban the former in competing in this Champions League.

But the decision today seems to have overturned this.

Markiyan Klyuchkovsky, capsule who represented Metalist in court, told reporters on Friday this should mean that UEFA must admit Metalist to the Champions League matches.

“Since the ruling of the Lausanne court has not formally taken effect, UEFA has no grounds to bar Metalist from the Champions League. In its judgment the Supreme Court of Switzerland pointed to some problems in the judgment of the Arbitration for Sport, which were indicated by Metalist in its appeal. And any action that will contradict the decision of the Supreme Court of Switzerland will be treated as contempt of court,” the lawyer said.