UEFA rejects appeals in FK Pobeda case

UEFA's Appeals Body has rejected appeals against decisions taken by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body in April, in which FYR Macedonia club FK Pobeda were banned from UEFA club competitions for eight years, 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.

Match investigated
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.

April decision
Under the Control and Disciplinary Body's decision on 17 April this year, club president Aleksandar Zabrcanec was banned for life from exercising any football-related activity, as was the player Nikolce Zdraveski. FK Pobeda are suspended for eight years from participating in UEFA club competitions as from the 2009/10 season. The world football body FIFA will be requested to extend the present decision so as to give it worldwide effect.