CAS to hear Iran title contender's appeal against FIFA

AP - The destiny of Iran's soccer championship looks set to be decided in a Swiss courtroom.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed Tuesday it will hear an appeal from Tehran club Persepolis to overturn a six-point deduction imposed by FIFA.

FIFA and Persepolis have had a long-running dispute over the club's failure to pay transfer fees to other clubs and wages to former staff.

The decision by the CAS panel of three lawyers could prove decisive in the title race.

The penalty leaves Persepolis trailing leader Sepahan by two points with two rounds to play. The two teams meet in the final match at Persepolis's Azadi Stadium.

Persepolis lost the last time it appealed to CAS against a fine and a warning of future points deduction by the FIFA disciplinary committee.

CAS has not fixed a date for the current appeal.