FC Sion has lost its lengthy legal fight with UEFA to be reinstated in the Europa League over a player eligibility dispute.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld UEFA’s right to kick Sion out of the competition because the Swiss club fielded ineligible players in a playoff victory over Celtic.

CAS ordered Sion to pay UEFA 40,000 Swiss francs ($42,500) for legal costs.

Sion had challenged UEFA’s decision to award Celtic 3-0 wins for both legs of a playoff in August. Sion had won 3-1 on aggregate using five players signed in breach of a FIFA transfer ban.

The dispute dates from 2008, when Sion broke FIFA transfer rules by luring goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary to break his contract with Egyptian club Al-Ahly.