CAS hears Malaga appeal to play in Europa League

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Spanish club Malaga has made its case at sport's highest court to overturn a UEFA ban from next season's Europa League for previously unpaid debts.

Manu Fernandez

FC Barcelona's David Villa, right, duels for the ball against Malaga's Jesus Gamez during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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FC Barcelona's David Villa, right, duels for the ball against Malaga's Jesus Gamez during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2013 file photo, Malaga's coach Manuel Pellegrini, from Chile, attends a news conference before a soccer training session at FC Porto's Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal. Manchester City has hired Manuel Pellegrini as the club's new manager to replace the fired Roberto Mancini. Pellegrini has signed a three-year contract and will begin his job on June 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Paulo Duarte, File)

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The Court of Arbitration for Sport said after Tuesday's hearing that it expects to give a verdict next week.

Malaga is challenging UEFA's decision last December to ban the Qatari-owned club from one European competition for missed payments of players' wages and social taxes.

Clubs must pay football and tax debts to retain a license from their national association to play in UEFA competitions.

Malaga, which reached the Champions League quarterfinals under coach Manuel Pellegrini, then finished sixth in the Spanish league to earn a Europa League berth.

If Malaga loses the appeal, Sevilla is set to enter Europe's second-tier club competition.

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