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Sion lose Europa League legal fight

Swiss football club Sion have lost their lengthy legal battle with Uefa to be reinstated in the Europa League over a player eligibility dispute.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld the right of Uefa, European football’s governing body, to kick Sion out of the competition because the club fielded ineligible players in a playoff victory over Glasgow Celtic.

The court ordered Sion to pay Uefa SFr40,000 ($42,500) for legal costs.

Sion had challenged Uefa’s decision to award Celtic 3-0 wins for both legs of a playoff in August. Sion had won 3-1 on aggregate using five players signed in breach of a transfer ban by Fifa, world football’s governing body.

The dispute dates from 2008, when Sion broke Fifa transfer rules by luring goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary to break his contract with Egyptian club Al-Ahly.

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