United in shock Euro ‘lifeline’
Posted Sunday, December 18, 2011 by The Sun
LIFELINE ... Alex Ferguson
MANCHESTER UNITED could be handed an amazing Champions League lifeline.
FIFA will suspend the Swiss FA — and all their clubs — unless the association punish FC Sion for fielding ineligible players.
If the Swiss do not comply, United's conquerers Basel would be slung out of the Champions League.
And that would open up the possibility of a shock reprieve for Alex Ferguson's men.
Sion were hit with a transfer embargo over the signing of Egyptian keeper Essam El Hadary — but still signed SIX players anyway.
They have all turned out in Swiss league matches after a civil court ruled that they were eligble to play.
Five of the six also featured in a Europa League play-off against Celtic — causing Sion to be turfed out of the competition.
FIFA chiefs have told Switzerland to throw the book at them by January 13.
A spokesman said: "Should this deadline not be respected, the Swiss FA will be automatically suspended from 14 January 2012 onwards."
There has been no official word on would what happen to Basel's place.
But it is thought likely that it could go to United as the third-placed team in the qualifying group.
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