ZURICH: Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary has been banned from all football for four months for breaching his contract at former club Al-Ahly.

FIFA announced the ban Tuesday and said El-Hadary and his current club FC Sion of Switzerland must pay ?900,000 ($1.3 million) in compensation to the Egyptian side Al-Ahly.

The world football body s dispute panel also banned Sion, the Swiss Cup winner, from registering any new players until the end of the 2009-10 season for signing El-Hadary last year.

The 36-year-old El-Hadary is clear to play for Egypt in a World Cup qualifying match against Algeria on Sunday and in the June 14-28 Confederations Cup tournament in South Africa.

The ban then takes effect from the start of the next club season and will force him to miss three World Cup qualifiers.

El-Hadary walked out on Al-Ahly after playing in Egypt s winning African Cup of Nations side in January 2008. The club was offered money by Sion to buy out the final two years of his contract.

The disputed transfer tested a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – the so-called Webster Ruling – which gave players the power to buy out a contract after serving a certain length of time on the deal.

El-Hadary and Sion can appeal the FIFA ruling to CAS. -AP