UEFA VS...UEFA? (@wiggum7534)

UEFA vs…UEFA?

Celtic FC (Scotland) and FC Sion (Switzerland) played in the final qualifying playoff round of the Europa League a few weeks back. After a bore 0-0 draw at Celtic Park, Sion triumphed at home to the tune of a 3-0 scoreline. This was helped by Celtic central defender (and Swedish international) Daniel Majstorovic’s red card within the first minute of the second leg. Yes, I know, he is a very special player to be red carded so soon. With his red card also came a penalty, a Swiss goal and game/tie over.

In general, that would mean Celtic are out of Europe. HOWEVER, Celtic protested. Interesting, but why?

Well, like Marty McFly, let’s rewind a little.

In 2008, Sion “signed” a goalkeeper by the name of Essam El-Hadary from Egyptian club Al-Ahly. The only problem was that the club were not aware that they’d actually sold the player to Sion. Sion claimed that they had bought the player using the Webster-arrest (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster-arrest).

The Wester-arrest was essentially where FIFA had ruled that Andy Webster (over-rated Scottish defender/hack) was able to leave Hearts, despite being under contract, for a fee of 625,000 pounds (why is there no “pound” sign on my keyboard!). FIFA said that he had satisfied Article 17 which essentially claims that if:
a) The player is under 28 after 3 years or
b) Over 28 after 2 years

He is generally outside of FIFA’s “protected period” and therefore as long compensation is paid to his former club (essentially the remainder of his contract) he may sign elsewhere.
Anyway, Al-Ahly filed the incident to FIFA which resulted in the player being fined and banned for 4 months. Sion were banned for one year but, due to an appeal, the ban only took effect last January.

Ok, so let’s follow Marty back to the future…August 2011.

Sion had fielded 5 signed players since the ban took effect, in their 2nd leg Europa League playoff against Celtic.

Michel Platini, UEFA president, has said that Sion were “in clear violation of the ban”. As a result of the Celtic protest, UEFA removed Sion from the Europa League group stage and put Celtic in their place. Nice, all sorted!

However, Sion have since appealed and, today/tonight depending on where you are, UEFA are supposed to rule on the outcome.

The latest that I have read is that the court (Swiss court) that heard their final appeal said that Sion should be reinstated, but left that decision up to UEFA. (of course SI.com says that Sion claims they have been reinstated)

If Sion is reinstated then it makes a complete mockery of any and all FIFA and UEFA rulings. IF football is not already made a mockery of with players constantly diving, poor refereeing decision (yes I’m talking to you Kevin Blom) and the financial dominance of so few, then surely this is the final straw.

FIFA and UEFA are in charge of the rules and rulings by which others abide. Yes they cannot necessarily stop multi-billionaires taking over clubs and ruining certain domestic leagues (yes, I’m talking to you EPL!), they cannot stop players from leaving when out of control (I’m talking to you Jean-Marc Bosman) but surely, surely they have control over their own rules and decision which resulted in a ban enforced upon Sion. If Sion have fielded ineligible players, than they are certainly not entitled to a result in that game. It is no different to a player who is serving a suspension, playing in a particular game when ineligible. Yes it is a technicality, but the game needs some rules by which to provide a level and just playing field.
Sion seem disinterested however.

All this over an Egyptian goalkeeper…I’ll be…


@wiggum7534