CAS dismisses Club León appeal against Club World Cup exclusion
The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) logo seen in Lausanne. Frank May/dpa
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal from Mexico's Club León against their exclusion from the Club World Cup by the ruling body FIFA over ownership rules.
The CAS said on Tuesday that León remain excluded and CF Pachuca, who have the same ownership group, part of it the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States.
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'The panel examined the evidence, including the Club León trust set up by the owners of the club, and concluded that this trust was insufficient to comply with the regulations," a CAS statement said.
"Consequently, Club León remains excluded from the competition and Pachuca remains qualified."
León and Pachuca had qualified for the Club World Cup as 2023 and 2024 winners of the CONCACAF confederation's Champions Cup.
Club León's were originally drawn into Group D alongside England's Chelsea, Tunisia's Esperance and Flamengo of Brazil.
But FIFA ruled in March that they were not eligible because two or more teams from the same ownership group are not allowed to participate.
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Their replacement will be determined in a play-off between Mexico's America and Los Angeles FC, FIFA has said.
In its ruling, the CAS also dismissed an appeal from Costa Rican club Alajuelense which wanted León and/or Pachuca excluded and be awarded their place in the tournament.
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