Essam Al-Hadari's appeal against the four-month ban FIFA imposed on him last year has been turned down by the Swiss Federal Court on Friday. World governing body FIFA sanctioned the Egypt goalie in April 2009 for violating his contract with Ahli to join Swiss side Sion one year earlier. The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) and FIFA's disputes panel rejected his appeals against the suspension and the federal court followed suit. Al-Hadari said he was resigned to the fact that he would have to serve the ban after losing his last legal battle with FIFA. "I expected that decision and I'm not sad," the veteran keeper told his personal website. "I will make the most of that punishment by taking some time to rest. I couldn't rest during the past two years due to the media hype and noise which surrounded that saga." Al-Hadari will also have to pay Ahli $796,500 in compensation following his abrupt departure in February 2008, few days after helping Egypt to a second consecutive African Cup of Nations triumph in Ghana. Egypt coach Hassan Shehata is unlikely to be annoyed by Al-Hadari's ban, given that the Pharaohs will not play any competitive game until March next year when they meet South Africa in the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers. Ironically, the 37-year-old's suspension could ease some problems for Zamalek, the club he joined in the close season from Ismaili. Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan has opted to rotate his goalkeepers, Al-Hadari and his Egypt deputy Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed, since the start of the season. Both keepers voiced their protest at such roles and fans favorite and skipper Al-Sayed, who came through the youth ranks of Zamalek, threatened to leave the club. But Al-Hadari looks more likely to depart when the transfer window re-opens in January after he reportedly agreed to join Harras Hodoud.
