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FC Porto excluded from Champions League

04/06/2008

Portuguese champions FC Porto have been excluded from the 2008/09 Champions League due to their involvement in an alleged referee bribery scandal.

The Dragons have been accused of paying off match referees in domestic matches during the 2003/04 season and were last month deducted six points and fined €150,000 (£118,500) by the Portuguese league organisers.

Uefa then contacted the Portuguese FA to "obtain further information" on the matter.

And after examining the evidence, a disciplinary board of European football's governing body said "there was felt to be a doubt over whether Porto fulfilled the admission criteria" for the Champions League.

The main problem was seen to be Porto's apparent inability to fulfill Article 1.04 (d) of the 2008/09 Champions League regulations, which states that the club must have no involvement in "an activity aimed at arranging or influencing the outcome of a match".

As a result, this was deemed sufficient to exclude FC Porto from next season's competition.

The club have the right to appeal the decision, which must be submitted within three days.

However, if Porto are unsuccessful the ruling means the Portuguese league's third-placed side, Guimaraes, will automatically qualify for the group stages of the Champions League next season.

And fourth-placed Benfica, who were set to miss out on Europe's top club competition next season, could earn a reprieve and enter the qualifying tournament.