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Sion threatens away-match boycott

FC Sion president Christian Constantin says the football club could boycott away matches next season because of a Fifa transfer ban that stops offseason signings from playing.

Constantin says Sion has no legal obligation to travel to its away games, including a July 31 visit to Neuchâtel Xamax, because the case is so serious.

Fifa, world football’s governing body, banned Sion from registering new players in 2011 after it induced goalkeeper Essam el-Hadary to break his contract with Egyptian club Al-Ahly in 2008.

Sion claims it served the punishment cumulatively over several transfer windows.

The Swiss league backed Zurich-based Fifa on Friday, the day before Sion’s opening match at home to Zurich. Sion won 1-0 despite being without six new signings, including former Barcelona midfielder Gabri Garcia.

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