Sion president to defy 14-month ban

ZURICH: The president of Swiss top flight club FC Sion has vowed to defy a 14-month ban imposed on him for attacking a television commentator following a league match last month.

Christian Constantin was suspended by the Swiss Football League’s disciplinary committee on Thursday and is banned from entering any part of a stadium that is hosting a domestic league, cup or national team match.

In a statement, the committee describe Constantin’s behaviour as “a clear and serious violation” of its code of conduct and said he had “discredited the values of football.”

“It makes me laugh,” Constantin told Swiss newspaper Le Matin. “I was not even called or heard (by the disciplinary commission). If they want a war, they’ll have a war. We’ll see who is standing at the end.”

Asked if he would go to tomorrow’s match at home to St Gallen, Constantin said: “Why should not go? I pay the rent at Tourbillon (stadium).”

Constantin attacked Rolf Fringer following a match at Lugano in September. Part of the attack was caught on camera and showed Fringer, already on the ground, being slapped on the head by Constantin.

Minutes later, Constantin said in a television interview that Fringer had treated him badly and that the matter had been “sorted out.”

Fringer described the incident as unbelievable. Reuters