Just under a fortnight ago, Lee Bowyer was told that UEFA had stated that he had technically not served his six-game ban owing to an administrative error by Newcastle United.
Newcastle had an appeal against UEFA's decision turned down on December 11, having inadvertently failed to include his name on a list of their players eligible for the European competition.
Newcastle have played twice against Valerenga, meaning that the midfielder has only four UEFA Cup games still to sit out, but with the fourth round first-leg clash with Real Mallorca this Thursday, people were hopeful that his ban would be overturned on a second appeal.
However, the Sunday Sun reported today that "the club have WITHDRAWN their appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport - the only body qualified to overturn UEFA's ruling."
Matthieu Reeb, the CAS's Secretary General, revealed:
"I confirm that Newcastle filed an appeal with CAS on December 24, 2003 and withdrew the same appeal on 19 January 2004. Consequently, this case is no longer pending before us. CAS is the only body capable of overturning UEFA's ruling."
A UEFA spokesman also added: "The case you are referring to could have been appealed to CAS by the club, but they didn't pursue it."
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