Lausanne - Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah has been banned for four months by FIFA in a breach-of-contract case.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it upheld Mensah's suspension imposed by FIFA last July in a case dating to 2011.
FIFA judged Mensah was contracted to Udinese when he joined French club Evian Thonon Gaillard four years ago claiming to be a free agent.
Under FIFA rules, Mensah will serve about one month of the ban until the French season ends.
Mensah is then a free agent, and will serve the final three months of the ban from the official start of his next club's new season.
FIFA says Mensah is eligible for Ghana's home game against Mauritius next month to begin 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying.