Italian club Spezia in court to challenge FIFA transfer ban

Published May. 19, 2022 1:07 p.m. ET

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Italian club Spezia challenged FIFA at sport’s highest court Thursday trying to overturn a two-year transfer ban for alleged trafficking of young players from Africa under the previous owner.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said no date had been set for a verdict in the appeal. The Serie A club could seek a fast-track ruling in June before the offseason transfer window opens in Italy.

FIFA

The club said last year the deals were made from 2013-18 before the

Spezia already served part of its punishment by sitting out the trading period in January and has since avoided relegation to ensure another season in top-tier Serie A.

With one round left, the team coached by former Italy midfielder Thiago Motta can finish no lower than 16th in the 20-team division.

Spezia’s previous owner was Gabriele Volpi, who took over a bankrupt club in 2008 and oversaw promotions from the fifth tier into Serie A for the first time in 2020.

FIFA previously said the Nigerian recruitment scheme involved two lower-tier clubs, USD Lavagnese 1919 and Valdivara 5 Terre, which were also sanctioned.

The scheme, FIFA alleged, was designed to avoid soccer rules that protect minors from international trafficking and also Italian immigration rules.

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