UEFA was informed today and took note that the Tribunal Cantonal de Vaud has rejected all the execution measures requested by FC Sion against UEFA, aimed in particular at having FC Sion play this week against Stade Rennais FC.

UEFA has also been notified today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, and respectively by the clubs themselves, that Udinese Calcio, Celtic FC, Club Atlético de Madrid and Stade Rennais FC have filed a demand to participate as parties in the arbitration procedure between UEFA and FC Sion.

The four clubs clearly stated that any change to the current Group I would impact on them significantly and therefore they have requested to be parties in the case.

UEFA has already organised a meeting with the four clubs involved on Friday to discuss the various scenarios for the reintegration of FC Sion into the group should FC Sion win the case on the merits at the CAS.

UEFA appreciates that any changes in the format of the UEFA Europa League need to be discussed with the four other clubs in the group that are affected by the matter.

These clubs (like every other club in the competition with the apparent exception of FC Sion) all recognise the CAS as the sole authority competent to decide on the merits of the case and, as such, will respect whatever decision the CAS ultimately delivers.

Accordingly, Udinese Calcio, Celtic FC, Club Atlético de Madrid, Stade Rennais FC and UEFA have all urged the CAS to decide the case quickly. By contrast, it seems only FC Sion are still attempting to obstruct justice and delay matters in a way the CAS itself has described as "manifestly abusive".