Sion hit back in FIFA battle

Swiss club Sion have filed a criminal complaint against FIFA after executive members threatened to expel Switzerland from world football.

World football’s governing body announced on December 17 that they would disqualify Switzerland from club and international competitions if the Swiss FA failed to punish Sion, after the side was expelled from the Europa League for fielding ineligible players during an active transfer embargo.

However, Sion have called FIFA’s threat ‘blackmail’ on their club website, while also stating the governing body has breached basic legal rules.

Sion are still contesting their dismissal from the second-tier European competition, despite the league heading into the knockout stages.

FIFA’s threat to exclude Swiss teams from competing in international and club fixtures could result in Basel being thrown out of the Champions League, despite the club being poised to face Bayern Munich in February.

If Basel were taken out of the competition, Manchester United could be reinstated into the Champions League’s last 16 as they finished below Basel in Group C.