El Hadary gets temporary reprieve from FIFA ban

Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary 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-Hadary 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 euros 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-Hadary appealed against FIFA’s ruling.

“The CAS will issue its final decision in this matter in approximately four months.”

El-Hadary’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.