By Andrew Warshaw
September 24 – UEFA President Michel Platini has been summoned to appear in court to answer claims that FC Sion were uinfairly expelled from the Europa League, according to the Swiss club.
In the latest bizarre twist to a saga that continues to plague UEFA, both Platini and UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino will have to testify at a hearing called by a Swiss criminal prosecutor, probably in mid-October, to explain why they refused to re-instate Sion.
In a landmark sports-versus-law case that could have widespread repercussions, Sion are fighting on several legal fronts after fielding players it signed in the close season in an apparent breach of a FIFA transfer ban.
Sion President Christian Constantin filed a criminal complaint in UEFA’s home Canton of Vaud after UEFA ignored a civil court ruling that his club should not have been replaced by Celtic in the Europa League group stage.
“We are happy that Michel Platini should go and meet the Vaud prosecutor and explain UEFA’s position,” UEFA said in a statement.
They did not confirm that Platini and Infantino would be interviewed in person on October 19.
The maximum penalty the courts could impose is a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs.
“They have to appear personally, they cannot send their lawyers,” FC Sion spokesman Nicolas Pillet was quoted as saying.
“If they do not show up, it will be the police who will go and get them.”
Sion are taking their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which could rule next week over the Swiss League’s decision to block the registrations for the six new players at the centre of the dispute.
The club later plans to launch a second, separate CAS challenge against UEFA for allowing their place to go to Celtic who lost a preliminary round tie against the Swiss club but protested that their opponents fielded ineligible players.
Celtic lost 2-0 to Atletico Madrid when the tournament proper started.
UEFA and FIFA both argue that Sion breaks the rules each time the club seeks justice at a non-sporting court.
The legal saga began when Sion signed Egypt goalkeeper Essam el-Hadary, who broke his contract with Al-Ahly in 2008.
FIFA’s decision to impose a one-year transfer ban was upheld by CAS and Switzerland’s Supreme Court.
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