FIFA ends threat to Swiss Football Federation

The sport's world governing body threatened to suspend the SVF if it failed by January 13 to impose appropriate sanctions on member club FC Sion for breaking international rules on player transfers.

A FIFA statement explained that the SVF had met the requirements on December 30 when it docked 36 league points from the team and that no further action against the Swiss football authorities would be necessary.

That closed the door on Manchester United who crashed out of the Champions League group stages after losing to Swiss side Basel in its final game.

Had FIFA suspended Swiss clubs from competition over the FC Sion case, Sir Alex Ferguson's side could have been reinstated to replace Basel in the last 16 of the competition.

The row erupted after the club, the subject of a FIFA-imposed transfer embargo over the signing of Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, proceeded to sign six players in the summer.

The club then fielded five of the six players during a Europa League play-off tie against Celtic earlier this year and were kicked out of the competition.