Christian Constantin

Christian Constantin (born 7 January 1957) is a Swiss architect.[1] He is the owner and president of Swiss football club FC Sion.[2] He bought the club, which had previously neared bankruptcy and was relegated from the Swiss Super League, in 2003.[1]

During his ownership of FC Sion, Constantin has employed over forty head coaches[3] and incurred a transfer ban from FIFA due to the signing of Essam El-Hadary.[1] This transfer ban then led to the club being expelled from the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League as players signed during the transfer embargo were used in competition.[4] Yet under his presidency, the club also experienced considerable success, such as its Swiss Cup victories in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015.

Constantin was formerly a goalkeeper who played for Neuchâtel Xamax (1977–1979), FC Lugano (1979–1980), FC Monthey (1981–1982) and FC Martigny-Sports (1983–1984).[5]

On 12 October 2017, Constantin was given a 14-month ban for striking former Switzerland coach Rolf Fringer.[6]

In March 2020, Constantin sacked 9 of his FC Sion first-team players after they refused to take a pay cut after the outbreak of the coronavirus and suspension of the Swiss Super League.[3]

References
  1. McGuire, Annie (17 August 2011). "Sion president the embodiment of a controversial club". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  2. "Ambitious FC Sion President Divides Swiss Opinion". Inside Futbol. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  3. "Swiss club sacks players who refused coronavirus pay cut". ESPN. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. "Celtic get Europa League lifeline after Sion expelled". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  5. Weltfussball
  6. "Christian Constantin: Sion chief gets 14-month ban for slapping Rolf Fringer". BBC. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2020.


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