FC Sion says court ruled in its favour

A Swiss court has upheld FC Sion’s appeal against its ban by Uefa and ordered that the club be reinstated in the Europa League, the club said on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on its website, the club said the civil court in Lausanne had ruled that the actions of European football’s governing body “appear contrary to its own regulations and are unjustified”.

According to Sion, Uefa has been ordered to immediately reinstate FC Sion in the Europa League and to pay the club some SFr55,000 ($60,000) in damages and legal costs.

Uefa expelled Sion for fielding players it signed in breach of a transfer ban by football’s world governing body, Fifa, during its playoff match against Glasgow Celtic.

In a statement on Wednesday, Fifa’s Emergency Committee backed Uefa’s stance and called on the Swiss Football Association to “execute the decision of the Swiss Football League’s appeal body” which rejected Sion’s request to register six players for the 2011 summer transfer period.

“The Swiss FA has also been reminded of its obligation, in accordance with the Fifa statutes, to ensure that its own members comply with the statutes, regulations and decisions of Fifa bodies,” Fifa said.