Kevin LustigPorto banned from Champions League (Updated 5/6)
June 5th 2008 15:01
After a meeting of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Board, it was announced on Wednesday that Portugal's FC Porto will not be allowed to participate in next season's Champions League. The decision stems from a six point deduction Porto received in the Portuguese SuperLiga this season due to bribery activities dating back to the 2003/04 season. Despite the deduction, Porto easily captured the Portuguese championship, qualifying them for Champions League play. With this decision, however, Porto look likely to miss out on the competition for the first time since 2002/03.
Match fixing is expressly prohibited in the regulations for UEFA competition, even if the infraction occurs in a club's domestic league and not in UEFA competition. The most recent match fixing incident that previously affected the Champions League was AC Milan's famous near ban from the 2006/07 competition. AC Milan were eventually allowed back into that competition on appeal, although only after having their domestic penalty reduced.
Despite failing to appeal their SuperLiga deduction, Porto have promised to challenge UEFA's decision. As no change is expected from the Portuguese League, such an appeal seems unlikely to meet with success. As such, the list of Portuguese entrants to European competition appears set for a shake up. Assuming the Portuguese League elects to simply advance each club one place in the absence of FC Porto, Vitoria Guimaraes will be given an automatic place in the Champions League group stages, with Benfica taking their place in the qualifying rounds. Farther down the table, sixth-placed Vitoria Setubal will be granted a UEFA Cup spot alongside Maritimo.
Update 5/6: Porto's management have indicated that they do not consider themselves out of the Champions League and are entirely confident that their appeal will be successful. Chairman Pinto da Costa indicated to Portuguese media outlet SIC that the affair had gone exactly as he had expected so far, adding that he was "sure" that FC Porto will be in next year's competition.
Match fixing is expressly prohibited in the regulations for UEFA competition, even if the infraction occurs in a club's domestic league and not in UEFA competition. The most recent match fixing incident that previously affected the Champions League was AC Milan's famous near ban from the 2006/07 competition. AC Milan were eventually allowed back into that competition on appeal, although only after having their domestic penalty reduced.
Despite failing to appeal their SuperLiga deduction, Porto have promised to challenge UEFA's decision. As no change is expected from the Portuguese League, such an appeal seems unlikely to meet with success. As such, the list of Portuguese entrants to European competition appears set for a shake up. Assuming the Portuguese League elects to simply advance each club one place in the absence of FC Porto, Vitoria Guimaraes will be given an automatic place in the Champions League group stages, with Benfica taking their place in the qualifying rounds. Farther down the table, sixth-placed Vitoria Setubal will be granted a UEFA Cup spot alongside Maritimo.
Update 5/6: Porto's management have indicated that they do not consider themselves out of the Champions League and are entirely confident that their appeal will be successful. Chairman Pinto da Costa indicated to Portuguese media outlet SIC that the affair had gone exactly as he had expected so far, adding that he was "sure" that FC Porto will be in next year's competition.
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