Sports court annuls AC Milan Europa League ban

LAUSANNE, July 20 (AFP): The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned on Friday a European ban imposed on AC Milan for violating UEFA's financial fair play rules, calling the punishment "not proportionate."

UEFA banned Milan from playing in next season's Europa League citing the club's failure to meet the "break-even requirement," which bars clubs from taking on debt to fund daily operations.

But CAS in statement ruled that "some important elements have not been properly assessed," by UEFA judges, notably that the "current financial situation of the club was now better following the recent change in the club's ownership."

CAS referred the case back to UEFA as requested by AC Milan, whose executives appeared at the Lausanne-based court on Thursday to argue their case.

The court "considers that the (UEFA's) Adjudicatory Chamber is in a better position than the CAS Panel to issue a new proportionate disciplinary measure on the basis of the current financial situation of the club," the statement said.