Man Utd could be handed CL lifeline

Nyon: Manchester United could see their Champions League place restored after FIFA warned the Swiss FA that their domestic sides could be banned from European competition following the row over Sion's Europa League participation.

Basel, who qualified ahead of United, could face expulsion from the competition if the Swiss FA do not follow FIFA's instructions in relation to a ban imposed on Sion by the January 13.

If Basel are disqualified, one option would see Sir Alex Ferguson's side return to the tournament, however it is also possible that the Swiss side's last-16 opponents, Bayern Munich, could be given a bye.

The statement reads: "Should this deadline not be respected, the Swiss FA will be automatically suspended from 14 January 2012 onwards."

If suspended, the ban would stop the Swiss national side, who are due to host Argentina in a friendly in February, from playing any international games as well. Euro 2012 would remain unaffected though, with Switzerland failing to qualify.

The case was sparked in the summer when Sion signed six players while under a transfer ban for player poaching in 2008. The players took their case to a civil court in Valais, Switzerland, which ruled them as eligible to play and they were thus fielded by Sion in the domestic league.

Some of the players featured against Celtic in the Europa League qualifying round, and whilst Sion beat the Scottish club they were then expelled from the competition as Uefa saw the players as ineligible.

As a complex legal battle between continues, FIFA wants the Swiss League to condemn Sion to a 3-0 defeat in each domestic game that featured any of the six players.

FIFA said to reporters: "The executive committee decided to give a final deadline of 13 January to the Swiss FA to enforce the registration ban imposed on Sion ... and to sanction the attitude of the club repeatedly trying to circumvent this decision in a legally abusive manner.

"As a consequence, all matches in which the relevant players participated shall be declared forfeit or three points shall be deducted respectively."