Swiss trio denied licences

Anxious days
BSC Young Boys, FC Wil 1900 and Servette FC were all left facing an anxious few days after the decision, which was made by the Swiss Football League's licensing committee. FC Baden, FC Luzern and Sports-Réunis Delémont from the Challenge League, Swiss football's second tier, were also denied licences.

Appeal
The clubs have five days to appeal against the verdict and must then provide new data to prove they merit a licence before the committee makes a final decision on 24 May.

Qualified for Europe
Two of the three have already qualified for Europe. Young Boys have earned a place in next season's UEFA Champions League second qualifying round after securing second place in the Super League table while Wil lifted the Swiss Cup last month to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Servette, meanwhile, retain a chance of making the UEFA Cup through their league placing. For the time being, though, the clubs can look no further ahead than 24 May.

Good health
The worries of these clubs contrasts markedly with the good health of new champions FC Basel 1893, who today announced a three-year sponsorship deal with Novartis, the Basel-based pharmaceutical company. No terms of the agreement have been disclosed, but it is believed to be the biggest sponsorship deal in Swiss football.

New arrivals
These funds, together with the money received from the transfers of Hakan Yakin and Marco Streller during the winter break, should enable coach Christian Gross to add to his squad during the summer, with up to five new arrivals expected at Saint Jakob Park.