Pobeda hit with eight-year UEFA match-fix ban

Macedonian club FC Pobeda were on Friday banned from UEFA competitions for eight years for match-fixing, the sport’s European governing body announced.

The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body added that the club president Aleksandar Zabrcanec and player Nikolce Zdraveski have also been banned for life as a result of the investigation.

UEFA said Pobeda had been punished “for breaching the principles of integrity and sportsmanship under Article 5 of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by manipulating the outcome of a match”.

The investigation centred on a Champions League qualifying tie between Pobeda and Armenian side Pyunik which took place over two legs on July 13 and 21, 2004.

Charges were brought against the club due to reports of irregular betting patterns and statements from a number of witnesses.

Pobeda’s ban will come into effect from the 2009/10 season onwards.

Football’s world governing body FIFA are now expected to extend the decision to give it worldwide effect. Pobeda have three days to launch an appeal.