7th June, 2013
Swiss champion Basel says FIFA has suspended its Ivory Coast midfielder Geoffroy Serey Die for four months over a five-year-old contract dispute.
Serey Die, who joined Basel in January, is banned from the start of next season but can represent his national team in two World Cup qualifying matches this month.
The sanction does cover additional World Cup qualifiers and Champions League preliminary rounds.
The 28-year-old player can appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Basel says it had no knowledge of a longstanding breach of contract case when it signed Serey Die from Swiss rival Sion.
Serey Die moved to Switzerland in 2008 after playing for Algerian club Setif.
However, Egyptian club Zamalek filed a complaint to FIFA that it had a valid contract agreement with Serey Die.
The club’s attorney, Nasr Azam, stated that he will file a new complaint with the CAS, seeking compensation.