Battle for El Hadary continues

Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary was unveiled by FC Sion

Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary returned to training with Al Ahly on Tuesday but Swiss side Sion insist he is still their player.

The 35-year-old was fined US$46,000 by the Cairo club after his attempt to break his contract and sign for Sion.

Al Hadari was suspended for three weeks by the Egyptian side after trying to use a legal loophole to leave the club.

Despite his return to training with Al Ahly, Sion officials say the goalkeeper has a valid contract with their club.

"El Hadary has signed a contract with us running until 2011 and this contract is still valid. An agreement to cancel the contract has not been reached," Sion spokesman Lars Gansauer told BBC Sport.

El Hadari sought to terminate his contract in line with Article 17 of Fifa's transfer regulations which allows players to cancel their contracts after a "protected period."

Scottish player Andy Webster was the first to invoke the loophole when he moved to Wigan Athletic from Hearts in 2006 when he still had one year of his deal remaining.

El Hadari had hoped that, because of his extended service at Al Ahly, he would be allowed to end his contract.

He was hoping to move to Sion for a compensatory payment of US$417,000, the equivalent of the rest of his contract with the Cairo club.

But after being unveiled as a new signing by Sion, El Hadari returned to Egypt at the start of the month when it became clear he could not make the move because he had not given Al Ahly the required notice period.

El Hadari, a key member of the Egypt side that won last month's African Nations Cup, was heavily criticised in his country for the attempted move.