Porto kicked out of 2008/09 Champions League
Porto have been excluded from next season's Champions League by Uefa, European soccer's governing body, over the alleged bribery of referees in the 2003-04 season.
Porto said it will appeal against the ruling but club officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The decision comes after a lengthy investigation known as "Apito Dourado," or Golden Whistle, into alleged bribery by Porto of referees in three matches in the 2003-04 season.
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 prior to a match.
Last month the Professional Portuguese Football League Disciplinary Commission docked Porto six points and fined the club €150,000.
Porto, who won last season's Portuguese title for the third time in a row, 14 points ahead of Sporting Lisbon, opted not to appeal as the six-points punishment did not affect final standings.
Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, the club president, has been suspended for two years and fined €10,000, but is appealing.
Jose Mourinho, who joined Inter Milan on Tuesday, was the Porto coach in the 2003-04 season when his side won the Champions League and Portuguese title but has not been implicated during the investigation.
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Porto said it will appeal against the ruling but club officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The decision comes after a lengthy investigation known as "Apito Dourado," or Golden Whistle, into alleged bribery by Porto of referees in three matches in the 2003-04 season.
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 prior to a match.
Last month the Professional Portuguese Football League Disciplinary Commission docked Porto six points and fined the club €150,000.
Porto, who won last season's Portuguese title for the third time in a row, 14 points ahead of Sporting Lisbon, opted not to appeal as the six-points punishment did not affect final standings.
Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, the club president, has been suspended for two years and fined €10,000, but is appealing.
Jose Mourinho, who joined Inter Milan on Tuesday, was the Porto coach in the 2003-04 season when his side won the Champions League and Portuguese title but has not been implicated during the investigation.
Labels: Champions League, Porto, UEFA
Stumble It!
posted by Gooner at
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