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Essam Al-Hadari will be eligible to play in Egypt’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Algeria next month after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it would hear his appeal against suspension in December.
The veteran goalkeeper, who currently plays for Ismaili, was handed a 900,000 euros fine and a four-month ban for violating his contract with Ahli to join Swiss side Sion in February 2008.
World governing body FIFA also hit Sion with a one-year transfer ban.
CAS later froze the sanction upon the appeal of Sion and Al-Hadari, but they are yet to announce a final verdict.
Reports suggested that CAS might uphold FIFA’s decision before Egypt meet Algeria at Cairo Stadium in a crucial World Cup qualifying clash on November 14.
Al-Hadari, who is widely regarded as the best keeper in Egypt’s history, wouldn’t be able then to feature in the make-or-break encounter, the reports added.
However, CAS set December 9 as a date to hear the appeal of Sion and the 36-year-old, giving him the green light to stand between the sticks against Algeria. A verdict is expected several weeks later.
Egypt, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1990, need to defeat Algeria by a three-goal margin to ensure their progress to next year’s South Africa finals.
A win by a two-goal margin will set up a playoff meeting with the Desert Foxes for a place at the football’s most prestigious event.
