Porto FC kicked out

LISBON – Portuguese champions FC Porto have been barred from competing in next season’s Champions League over a match-fixing scandal, European football’s governing body Uefa said yesterday.

“The Uefa Control and Disciplinary Body has decided FC Porto will not be admitted to the 2008/09 Uefa Champions League after studying a matter involving alleged bribery of referees. As a result the club was fined 150 000 euros, docked six points, the club’s president Jorge Pinto da Costa was suspended for two years and Boavista were relegated to the second division for their part in match-fixing.Porto have not appealed against the points deduction, but da Costa has against his penalty.The club said in a statement yesterday that they intend to appeal the ban which, if upheld, would see Vitoria Guimaraes, third in the domestic championship, automatically qualify for the second of the two Champions League spots on offer to Portuguese clubs.”Following reports published in the Portuguese media about the issue, Uefa contacted the Portuguese Football Federation to obtain further information,” the Uefa statement continued.”The matter was subsequently referred to the Uefa judicial bodies for further examination, as there was felt to be a doubt over whether Porto fulfilled the admission criteria, notably Article 1.04 (d) of the 2008/09 Uefa Champions League regulations.The affair, which came to light in April 2004, also resulted in five referees being suspended for periods between two-and-a-half and six years for either accepting the offer of prostitutes after matches or one who received 2,500 euros prior to a match.Porto – which were managed by former Chelesea coach Jose time of the scandal though he has not been implicated in the affair – won this season’s league by a 20-point margin over rivals Sporting Lisbon.Nampa-AFPAs a result the club was fined 150 000 euros, docked six points, the club’s president Jorge Pinto da Costa was suspended for two years and Boavista were relegated to the second division for their part in match-fixing.Porto have not appealed against the points deduction, but da Costa has against his penalty.The club said in a statement yesterday that they intend to appeal the ban which, if upheld, would see Vitoria Guimaraes, third in the domestic championship, automatically qualify for the second of the two Champions League spots on offer to Portuguese clubs.”Following reports published in the Portuguese media about the issue, Uefa contacted the Portuguese Football Federation to obtain further information,” the Uefa statement continued.”The matter was subsequently referred to the Uefa judicial bodies for further examination, as there was felt to be a doubt over whether Porto fulfilled the admission criteria, notably Article 1.04 (d) of the 2008/09 Uefa Champions League regulations.The affair, which came to light in April 2004, also resulted in five referees being suspended for periods between two-and-a-half and six years for either accepting the offer of prostitutes after matches or one who received 2,500 euros prior to a match.Porto – which were managed by former Chelesea coach Jose time of the scandal though he has not been implicated in the affair – won this season’s league by a 20-point margin over rivals Sporting Lisbon.Nampa-AFP

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