FIFA HAPPY WITH 36 POINT BAN

FIFA have drawn a line under the Sion / UEFA / Europe League controversy, and are allowing Switzerland to continue to compete in international competition.

There had been speculation that FIFA would ban the Swiss FA from the World Cup and European Championships because they had failed to deal with the on-going controversy at Sion, one of the top clubs in the Swiss League, but this has now been resolved.

Sion managed to finish in third last season, and would be on course for another good finish this year were it not for the massive 36 point penalty placed on them by the Swiss FA, which leaves them way off the pace at the bottom of the league, with games running out.

Sion somehow managed to field ineligible players in both Swiss league matches and their game against Celtic in the Europa League qualifying. This led to UEFA putting Celtic through even though the Scottish side had been comprehensively beaten over two legs by Sion, against the Euro Betting odds at the time.

Sion's actions from this point on caused ructions all through the football world, with the club threatening to take the case to the European civil courts after being over-ruled by the Sports Court of Arbitration. Such a move would have been unprecedented, so it was no wonder FIFA got involved, and threatened the Swiss FA with a ban on all international competition unless they sorted the issue out in-house.

The 36 point penalty should draw a line under the affair, and we can only hope that Sion put a run together to ensure their safety in the top division next season.

Should Sion remain at the bottom of the League, have a bet on Liverpool and other clubs sticking bids in for all their best players, and a lot of transfer movement in the summer.