GENEVA: Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadari will be able to play over the coming months after world sport’s top court granted him a temporary stay of execution on a suspension imposed by FIFA.
The Court of Arbitration of Sport froze the sanction first meted out on El-Hadari and Swiss club Sion in April while it examines the dispute over his controversial transfer to the Swiss side last year from Egyptian club Al-Ahly.
World football’s governing body had suspended Egypt’s star goalie, who recently left Sion, for four months and ordered the joint payment of ?900,000 to Al-Ahly.
“Such decision is now “frozen until the end of the CAS procedure, the Lausanne-based arbitration body said in a statement after Sion and El-Hadari appealed against FIFA’s ruling.
“The CAS will issue its final decision in this matter in approximately four months.
El-Hadari’s sudden mid-season move in February 2008 sparked anger in Egypt, shortly after he helped his national side defend their African Nations Cup title and Sion’s boss flew over to make him a lucrative offer.
Sion also face an international and national transfer ban over the summer and winter breaks. -AFP
