Roma lose appeal against FIFA's ban

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has turned down an appeal by Roma against a FIFA ban that prevents them from registering new players.

World soccer's governing body imposed the ban after finding the Serie A side guilty of misconduct in the transfer of defender Philippe Mexes from French club Auxerre last year.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed the request for a stay filed by AS Roma further to the decision made by FIFA on June 23, 2005 to ban the Italian club from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, during the current transfer period and the next one," the Lausanne-based court said.

Roma had hoped to have the ban lifted pending the CAS's final decision, which is expected before the next transfer window in January. A suspension would have allowed the club to buy and sell players during the current transfer period.

The controversy began soon after Mexes arrived in the Italian capital last year.

Auxerre claimed that they had not given Mexes permission to leave and complained that Roma, and in particular Roma's former sporting director Franco Baldini, had encouraged the player to break his contract.

The CAS's decision comes as a huge blow to the 2001 Italian champions as they attempt to rebuild a squad following a disappointing season in which they finished eighth in Serie A, 41 points behind winners Juventus.

As well as preventing Roma from signing new players, the ban also complicates the position of those who have arrived most recently.

Defender Samuel Kuffour, midfielder Rodrigo Taddei and striker Shabani Nonda were all signed after FIFA imposed the ban, leaving Roma facing a legal battle to register them before the new season starts on August 28.