The Rotterdam-based club said in a statement they believe they cannot be held responsible for the crowd disturbances before and during their group-stage match against Nancy in France on Nov. 30 for which they were banned.

"We want to have the verdict of the (UEFA) Appeals Board tested in juridical terms as we have the feeling that justice has not been done," the club's financial director Onno Jacobs said.

Feyenoord qualified for the first knockout round but the UEFA ban handed their English opponents Tottenham Hotspur a bye into the last 16 of the competition.

"Pending our appeal we will continue our preparations for the matches against Spurs and we will urge the Court of Arbitration for Sport to make a quick decision," Feyenoord said.

CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb told Reuters on Thursday the court was confident the case could be heard and a verdict announced in time for the first leg of the first knockout round tie to go ahead if it ruled in Feyenoord's favour.

During the trouble at Nancy in November, tear gas was used to contro rioting Feyenoord fans who spilled onto the pitch. The match was suspended for half an hour.