Adrien Silva’s legal request to play for Leicester refused

Steaua's Junior Morais, right, battles for the ball with Sporting's Adrien Silva during the Champions League soccer match between FC Steaua Bucharest and Sporting CP. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Adrien Silva’s emergency request to be allowed to play for Leicester has been rejected by sport’s highest court.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Thursday it denied Silva’s request for an urgent interim decision that would clear him to play after a disputed transfer from Sporting Lisbon.

Silva acted alone in asking the court to let England’s Football Association provisionally register him while he awaits a full verdict on the merits of his appeal.

On the summer transfer deadline day in August, Leicester signed the Portugal midfielder for 22 million pounds ($28.7 million) but did not register details of the deal with FIFA on time.

FIFA refused in September to make an exception for Silva, who will become eligible to play in January.

CAS said Silva’s full appeal case is ongoing and a hearing will be held soon.

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