Eight-year ban for FK Pobeda

FYR Macedonia club FK Pobeda have been banned from UEFA club competitions for eight years by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, and the club president and a player banned for life from exercising any football-related duty, for breaching the principles of integrity and sportsmanship under Article 5 of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by manipulating the outcome of a match.

Betting patterns and declarations
The match under investigation was the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie between FK Pobeda and FC Pyunik over two legs on 13 and 21 July 2004. The charges brought against FK Pobeda were based on reports received from the betting industry on irregular betting patterns and the declarations of several witnesses.

UEFA decision
The decision was taken after a seven-hour meeting, during which the representatives of FK Pobeda were heard, as well as a betting expert. Under the Control and Disciplinary Body's decision, club president Aleksandar Zabrcanec is banned for life from exercising any football-related activity, as is the player Nikolce Zdraveski. FK Pobeda are suspended for eight years from participating in UEFA club competitions as from the 2009/10 season.

Appeal deadline
The world football body FIFA will be requested to extend the present decision so as to give it worldwide effect. An appeal may be lodged within three days of the receipt of the grounds for the decision.

Click here for the UEFA disciplinary regulations.