FC Santa Coloma must forfeit cancelled match

The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has imposed a 3-0 defeat on Andorran titleholders FC Santa Coloma after their home UEFA Champions League qualifier against Birkirkara FC on Tuesday 29 June had to be postponed because of an unplayable pitch.

The chairman ad hoc of the Control and Disciplinary Body ruled that Santa Coloma must forfeit the first leg of their first qualifying round tie against the Maltese champions by a 3-0 scoreline. In addition it handed down a €10,000 fine to the Andorran club as a punishment that will be suspended for a probationary two-year period.

The game, which should have been played on Tuesday, was called off due to the poor pitch conditions at the Estadi Comunal in Andorra la Vella. In making its ruling, the Control and Disciplinary Body studied the reports of the delegate, referee and referee observer from the now cancelled match. Santa Coloma may appeal within three days of notification of the grounds for the decision.

The Birkirkara-Santa Coloma second leg will go ahead as scheduled on Tuesday 6 July. In the event of the Andorran club winning the game in Malta by 3-0, a period of extra time will follow.

Because of the pitch conditions at the Estadi Comunal, Thursday's UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first-leg match between UE Santa Coloma and FK Mogren was switched to the Camp d'Esports del M.I. Consell General.