CAS upholds AFC’s appeal to maintain disqualification of Esteghlal FC

AFC - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has found in favour of AFC concerning the dismissal of Iran Pro League club, Esteghlal Tehran FC, from the AFC Champions League 2007, ruling that CAS has no jurisdiction regarding the rules of the competition, in particular the AFC Champions League Regulations 2007.

Esteghlal Tehran were expelled from the AFC Champions League on February 16 for failing to submit their preliminary player registration forms by the February 11, 2007, deadline, in accordance with the regulations which govern the competition.

CAS pronounced that they had no jurisdiction to rule upon, and would not entertain the appeal by Esteghlal FC against the decision passed by AFC on February 16.

The first order for reinstatement of Esteghlal FC into AFC Champions League 2007 was dismissed by CAS on March 7, 2007. The second order found for Esteghlal FC to be reinstated into the competition, based on the final decision of the Panel. Subsequent to this, AFC filed a request for re-consideration which was reviewed by the Panel.

On 4th April 2007, the CAS Panel for the case, constituted of Mr. Peter Leaver, Barrister in London/United Kingdom (President), Mr. Berhard Welten, Attorney-at-law in Bern/Switzerland (Arbitrator) and Mr. Goetz Eilers, Attorney-at-law in Darmstadt/Germany (Arbitrator) held a conference call to deliberate on AFC’s application for reconsideration of the second order on provisional measures, concluding in CAS finding in favour of AFC based on the non-jurisdiction issue.