Champions League - Porto cleared to play

Eurosport - Thu, 06 Aug 17:51:00 2009

Porto will play in this season's Champions League after having been cleared of match-fixing allegations by UEFA.

Porto - 0

The Portuguese champions have examined by European football's governing body after the club was convicted of attempting to bribe referees in the Super Lig during the 2003-04 season.

But UEFA have now closed the investigation as the rule barring teams for suspected match fixing was not officially implemented until 2007.

A UEFA statement read: "Based on the UEFA disciplinary inspector's report and with reference to the time-specific criteria stipulated ... the Control and Disciplinary Body noted that it was therefore not authorised to rule on the admission or exclusion of Porto, and has closed its investigation and struck it off the list of cases."

Porto had initially been banned from appearing in this season's competition but the decision was overturned on appeal by UEFA.

Benfica and Guimaraes - the two sides who stood to benefit from Porto's exclusion - appealed but the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed their claim and the case was referred back to UEFA for further consideration.

Eurosport

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  1. kenny, I think you missed of (unless you are English).­

    Unless you're
    English, you can get away­ with
    F'kin
    Anything.

    Porto - guilty of­ matchfixing, kicked out of the Champions League. Let­ back in on appeal.
    AC Milan - guilty of matchfixing.­ Let back in on appeal, won the cup!

    From Tim, on Sat 8 Aug 5:46PM

  2. UEFA..=underhand events furkin alright.

    From kenny, on Fri 7 Aug 12:58AM

  3. In other words, they've not been cleared at all;­ it's just lay around long enough for it to go away;

    From lysdexic, on Thu 6 Aug 6:17PM
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