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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Rangers target Nedim Bajrami's FIFA legal battle over international switch unearthed

Rangers target Nedim Bajrami was so determined to play for Albania he took FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport...and won.

The 25-year-old Sassuolo seems set to move to Ibrox after playing for five years in Italy after moving to his current club from Empoli.

Bajrami represented Switzerland on 49 occasions for their youth teams, but dramatically pulled out of their European Under 21s Championship squad three years ago on the brink of the Finals.

Switzerland were furious about this and, after he rejected a call-up for their full team too, complained to FIFA who backed them and blocked Bajrami's international switch.

However, he was so infuriated by the decision he took world football's governing body all the way to the highest court in sport and they overturned the decision.


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He went on to make 26 appearances for Albania and netted the fastest goal in European Championships history after just 23 seconds of an eventual defeat to Italy this summer.

Bajrami explained why he decided to take FIFA all the way.

He said: "I played in all age groups for Switzerland and I had to decide whether to continue playing for them or switch to Albania.

"I talked with my family and in the end, I made the decision myself. I listened to my heart.

"I felt that I wanted to play for Albania and I made this decision.

"I am very happy that I chose to play for Albania because when it all came down to it, I felt Albanian."

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