LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Sport s highest court will hear an appeal by Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary against a four-month ban imposed by FIFA for breaking his contract with former club Al-Ahly.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday it will also hear an appeal from El-Hadary s current club, FC Sion of Switzerland, which was banned by football s governing body from signing any new players until the end of the 2009-10 season.

Sion signed El-Hadary last year before his deal with Al-Ahly had expired, taking advantage of a contentious CAS ruling allowing players to buy out the remainder of their contracts.

Sion and El-Hadary are also seeking to overturn FIFA s order that they pay ?900,000 ($1.3 million) in compensation to Al-Ahly. -AP