STARS IN EUROPE - GHANA - Mensah facing ban
Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah has been handed a worldwide ban from football for four months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over his transfer from Udinese to Evian four years ago, BBC Sport understands.
Sources close to Mensah have told the BBC the court ruled in favour of Italian club Udinese, stating Mensah's transfer to the French side as a free agent was illegal because the Ghanaian was still under contract at the time.
Mensah's ban takes effect from 29 April and will expire on 29 August 2015.
It means Mensah will miss the start of next season, but crucially for Ghana, he will also be absent from the 2017 Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritius, scheduled for Accra on 14 June.
News of Mensah's ban from all football activity comes as a double blow for the player, whose club, Evian, was relegated from the French top flight on Saturday.
24-year-old Mensah joined Udinese from Free State Stars in South Africa after impressing for Ghana during their 2009 World Youth Cup victory.
However, Mensah struggled to get into the Italian team and instead spent time on loan at Granada before his transfer to Evian.
The Ghana Football Association says they have not been officially informed about Mensah's ban as yet and are waiting to hear from the Court of Arbitration for Sport and FIFA on Monday.
Ghana