ZURICH: FC Sion, having launched legal action against members of the FIFA executive committee, have been hit by the full disciplinary weight of the Swiss football federation writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The SFV, reacting to the threat of international suspension from the world federation, have dropped Sion from third place to the foot of the league with minus five points.

Sion have been penalized 30 points gained from matches in which they fielded one or more ineligible players as well as six points for using one or more of the players in two Swiss cup-ties.

Sion signed six newcomers this past summer in defence, according to FIFA, of a transfer ban imposed after the club’s contentious 2008 signing of the Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadari.

FIFA’s executive committee had issued its warning to the Swiss federation two weeks ago. This had which prompted fears that FC Basel would be banned from the Champions League – in which they face Bayern Munich in the second round – and of the cancellation of a lucrative international friendly against Argentina.

Earlier Sion stated that they had started legal proceedings against members of FIFA’s exco over the threat to Switzerland.

A statement said: “FC Sion has now filed a criminal complaint against executive members of the committee of FIFA after the threat to exclude the Helvetic Federation and clubs affiliated to it. “The complaint was sent to the prosecutor in Zurich. It is directed against anyone who participated or contributed to the decision of the FIFA.”