The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Monday that Gibraltar’s soccer association had the right to become a member of FIFA, a decision that could allow Gibraltar’s national team to earn last-minute admission into qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
The ruling by CAS, as the court is known, comes after years of court battles, political maneuvering and rejection surrounding Gibraltar’s bid for membership in FIFA, soccer’s global governing body. Gibraltar’s quest for full membership is still subject to a vote by FIFA at its annual congress in Mexico next week.
“FIFA Executive Committee is ordered to transmit the Gibraltar Football Association’s application for FIFA membership to the FIFA Congress,” the sports court said in a statement after its judgment.