Editing FC Sion (section)

===Transfer ban saga===
In 2008, controversy came to Sion when they signed [[Essam El Hadary]], leading to a two-year "registration period" ban for Sion from June 2009, and an international playing ban for El Hadary for four months,<ref>[http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/4267/5048/0/Award201880-1881.pdf CAS decision] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414212658/http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/4267/5048/0/Award201880-1881.pdf |date=14 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8079834.stm|title=El Hadary banned for four months|date=2 June 2009|access-date=5 September 2009|publisher=BBC|archive-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605141505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8079834.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> due to El-Hadary still being under contract at his former club [[Al Ahly SC|Al Ahly]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/administration/news/newsid=1079626.html |title=FC Sion and El Hadary lodge appeal |date=7 July 2009 |access-date=5 September 2009 |publisher=FIFA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710002810/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/administration/news/newsid%3D1079626.html |archive-date=10 July 2009 }}</ref> Sion appealed this action, but the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland confirmed the [[FIFA]], DRC and [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) decisions in 2009 and 2010 respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/administration/news/newsid=1367296/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107015113/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/administration/news/newsid=1367296/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 November 2011|title=FIFA statement on Swiss Federal Court ruling|date=19 January 2011|access-date=30 October 2011|publisher=FIFA}}</ref> However, the lengthy legal battle (including the temporary reprieve) meant the ban was only practically instituted beginning in the winter transfer window of the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football.ch/sfl/de/Transfers_ASL10_winter.aspx|title=Transferübersicht Axpo Super League&nbsp;– Saison 2010/11 (Winter)|access-date=30 October 2011|work=Swiss Football League|language=de|archive-date=16 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916163913/http://www.football.ch/sfl/de/Transfers_ASL10_winter.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although gaining a place in the qualifying round of the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League]] by winning the previous season's [[2010–11 Swiss Cup|Swiss Cup]], Sion were excluded from the Europa League by [[UEFA]] after fielding ineligible players in their play-off victory against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0254-0d7d34a8e9b7-df498370fb03-1000--fc-sion-appeal-rejected/ |title=FC Sion appeal rejected |date=13 September 2011 |access-date=13 September 2011 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015021905/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/footballfirst/matchorganisation/disciplinary/news/newsid%3D1676562.html#fc+sion+appeal+rejected |archive-date=15 October 2011 }}</ref> On 2 September, the [[Swiss Football League]] (SFL) rejected the registration of one more player, Brian Amofa.<ref>[http://www.football.ch/sfl/fr/Newsticker_f.aspx La demande de qualification pour Amofa rejetée] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020134432/http://www.football.ch/sfl/fr/Newsticker_f.aspx |date=20 October 2011 }} 2 September 2011</ref>

On 30 September 2011, the SFL decided to provisionally qualify the six new signings, namely [[Stefan Glarner]], [[Billy Ketkeophomphone]], [[Mario Mutsch]], [[Pascal Feindouno]], [[José Gonçalves (footballer)|José Gonçalves]] and [[Gabri García|Gabri]], to comply with the ongoing legal process.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tas-cas.org/en/infogenerales.asp/4-3-5286-1092-4-1-1/5-0-1092-15-1-1/ |title=FOOTBALL&nbsp;– CASE FC SION / OLYMPIQUE DES ALPES SA / SFL: APPEAL WITHDRAWN |date=3 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |work=CAS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107025425/http://www.tas-cas.org/en/infogenerales.asp/4-3-5286-1092-4-1-1/5-0-1092-15-1-1 |archive-date=7 November 2011 }}</ref> Sion also sued the SFL and UEFA respectively in the Tribunal Cantonal de [[Valais]] and the Tribunal in [[Vaud]], however both actions were dismissed.<ref>[http://www.football.ch/sfl/fr/Newsticker_f.aspx Le FC Sion débouté par le tribunal cantonal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020134432/http://www.football.ch/sfl/fr/Newsticker_f.aspx |date=20 October 2011 }} 8 September 2011</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01f6-0e7a4c052a23-4fd7a4bdc23e-1000--tribunal-cantonal-de-vaud-rejects-latest-court-request-fr/ |title=Tribunal Cantonal de Vaud rejects latest court request from FC Sion |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020150014/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/news/newsid%3D1698937.html |archive-date=20 October 2011 }}</ref> The club's earlier appeal was dismissed by UEFA Appeals Body on 13 September.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0254-0d7d34a8e9b7-df498370fb03-1000--fc-sion-appeal-rejected/ |title=FC Sion appeal rejected |date=13 September 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015021905/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/footballfirst/matchorganisation/disciplinary/news/newsid%3D1676562.html |archive-date=15 October 2011 }}</ref> Sion also sued the SFL and UEFA in the CAS, but withdrew the former claim. The hearing of the latter claim was set on 24 November.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01f6-0e7a96a835da-bb09b6b43871-1000--cas-sets-date-for-fc-sion-hearing/ |title=CAS sets date for FC Sion hearing |date=25 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027173730/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/news/newsid%3D1705195.html |archive-date=27 October 2011 }}</ref>

On 25 October, the Discipline Commission ([[French language|fr]]: ''Commission de discipline'') of SFL suspended all six players for five matches.<ref>[http://www.football.ch/sfl/fr/Newsticker_f.aspx Un effet suspensif pour les 6 joueurs du FC Sion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020134432/http://www.football.ch/sfl/fr/Newsticker_f.aspx |date=20 October 2011 }} 25 October 2011</ref> It was reported that each player filed their legal claim in civil court instead of using the Swiss FA and CAS "sports court" system, which the ban was requested by FIFA.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} On 27 October, as a "provisional and super-provisional measures",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01f6-0e7a3583905f-214fe8fd312e-1000--uefa-statement-on-fc-sion-case/ |title=UEFA statement on FC Sion case |date=15 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017153617/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/news/newsid%3D1697191.html |archive-date=17 October 2011 }}</ref> UEFA invited Sion to a match schedule consultation once UEFA lost the legal battle.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01f6-0e7a9c91221b-bc9427678397-1000--uefa-invites-sion-to-match-schedule-consultation/ |title=UEFA invites Sion to match schedule consultation |date=27 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029193432/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/news/newsid%3D1706242.html |archive-date=29 October 2011 }}</ref>

On 31 October 2011, Sion sent a complaint to the [[European Commission]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sport/FC_Sion_complains_to_European_Commission.html?cid=31473222|title=FC Sion complains to European Commission|date=31 October 2011|access-date=5 November 2011|work=swissinfo.ch|archive-date=19 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219051851/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sport/FC_Sion_complains_to_European_Commission.html?cid=31473222|url-status=live}}</ref> FIFA also won the legal battle in civil court in November. Previously, the civil court of [[Martigny]] and [[Saint-Maurice, Switzerland|Saint-Maurice]] (both of the city of Valais) ordered FIFA to confirm the signing of those six players on 3 August, a consequence of lawsuit brought out by the players. On 16 November, FIFA and the SFL appeal was upheld in the Valais canton court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=1544648/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120175915/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=1544648/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2011|title=FIFA wins case against Sion players|date=18 November 2011|access-date=3 January 2012|publisher=FIFA}}</ref>

On 15 December, the CAS upheld the complaints by UEFA, affirming its right to discipline Sion according to previous agreements. The CAS also lifted the provisional measures ordered by the Tribunal Cantonal of Vaud (Cour civile) on 5 October 2011.<ref>[http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5475/5048/0/dispositif20UEFA-OLA202574.pdf The Decision] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414212922/http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5475/5048/0/dispositif20UEFA-OLA202574.pdf |date=14 April 2012 }}</ref> After the ruling, FIFA threatened to suspend Swiss national and club teams from international competition if Sion were not appropriately penalized for its ostensible rules violations.<ref>[http://www.insideworldfootball.biz/worldfootball/europe/10088-switzerland-facing-international-exile-because-of-sion-affair Switzerland facing international exile because of Sion affair, Duncan McKay, Inside World Football, 17 December 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519064811/http://www.insideworldfootball.biz/worldfootball/europe/10088-switzerland-facing-international-exile-because-of-sion-affair |date=19 May 2012 }}</ref> In late December 2011, the [[Swiss Football Association]] complied with FIFA's demands and penalized Sion 36 standings points (based on how many matches ineligible players were involved), moving the club to last place in the league standings and putting the club at risk of [[relegation]] if the ruling stood.<ref>[http://www.insideworldfootball.biz/worldfootball/europe/10148-fc-sion-docked-36-points-by-sfv-following-fifa-row FC Sion docked 36 points by SFV following FIFA row, Andrew Warshaw, Inside World Football, 29 December 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519064954/http://www.insideworldfootball.biz/worldfootball/europe/10148-fc-sion-docked-36-points-by-sfv-following-fifa-row |date=19 May 2012 }}</ref>

Sion finished the [[2011–12 Swiss Super League|2011–12 season]] in ninth place, which qualified them to the relegation matches against [[FC Aarau|Aarau]], whom they defeated 2–1 on aggregate to stay in the Swiss Super League. Without suffering their 36-point deduction Sion would have finished in the third place, which would have qualified them into the [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League]]. Prior to the start of the [[2012–13 Swiss Super League|2012–13 season]], they made a major coup by signing [[Gennaro Gattuso]] and [[Kyle Lafferty]], both via free transfers. However, the club had a disappointing season which saw them change coaches three times before settling on Gattuso to finish the season, ending in third place.

Sion finished the [[2014–15 Swiss Super League|2014–15 season]] in second place as runner-up, which qualified to the [[UEFA Europa League]] Group Stage for the first time in history from next season. In 2015–16, Sion reached to Round of 32 Europa League until Eliminated by [[S.C. Braga]] with aggregate 3–4.