UPDATE 1-Soccer-Romanian clubs docked points for corruption

Wed Jun 4, 2008 7:27pm BST
 
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BUCHAREST, June 4 (Reuters) - The Romanian Soccer Federation (FRF) docked Steaua Bucharest seven points and Universitatea Cluj six on Wednesday after finding some officials and players guilty of bribery.

FRF started a parallel investigation into the clubs after Romania's anti-corruption prosecutors launched a criminal inquiry into Steaua owner Gigi Becali and Universitatea president Anton Dobos last month.

Prosecutors accused Becali of offering 1.7 million euros ($2.65 million) to Dobos and several players to do their utmost to stop title contenders CFR Cluj in the last round of the season in May.

All have denied any wrongdoing.

"The FRF's Disciplinary Commission has found Steaua Bucharest and Universitatea Cluj officials and some players responsible for giving and taking bribes," Daniel Cernat, the head of FRF's Disciplinary Commission, told reporters.

"According to the FRF rules, Steaua has been stripped of seven points and Universitatea six in the current table," Cernat said.

CFR Cluj beat relegated Universitatea Cluj 1-0 to win the title, a point clear of Steaua who will remain second despite being stripped of points.

Cernat said Becali and Dobos have been banned from appearing at any soccer stadium in Romania for the next two years, while players Petre Marin of Steaua and Gigel Coman of Universitatea were banned from playing for six months. Both Becali and Dobos were fined 200,000 lei ($85,000) each.  Continued...

 

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