Football clubs from Latvia, Ukraine on UEFA's list of suspicious matches

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UEFA is conducting a thorough investigation into seven matches of the Champions League and the Europa League involving clubs from Albania, Latvia, Slovenia, and Hungary, according to the official Web site of UEFA.

"A meeting was held today at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, with the nine national football associations named last week by German authorities as having domestic league matches under investigation," reads the statement.

UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said: "From the original list of around 40 fixtures in Europe that were considered suspicious in terms of results, UEFA is today further investigating seven European club competition fixtures under its jurisdiction in more detail."

"The five clubs involved are KF Tirana (Albania), FC Dinaburg (Latvia), KS Vllaznia (Albania), NK IB Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Budapest Honved FC (Hungary)," he said.

The list of suspicious matches includes the match of the Champions League's second qualifying round between Stabek IF and KF Tirana. It also includes six matches of the Europa League's second and third qualifying rounds, particularly Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC - FC Dinaburg, FC Dinaburg - Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC, KS Vllaznia - SK Rapid Wien, SK Rapid Wien - KS Vllaznia, NK IB Ljubljana - FC Metalurh Donetsk (Ukraine), and Fenerbahce SK - Budapest Honved FC.

"Irrespective of the above matches, UEFA is today also opening its own investigation into the possible involvement of three referees and one other individual connected to UEFA, in the match fixing. Contrary to media reports there is no suspicion or investigation into any UEFA administration staff," reads the statement.

Following a three hour meeting at the UEFA headquarters regarding the current match-fixing and betting scandal with the objective of an exchange of information, UEFA and the nine football associations of Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey that were mentioned in the Bochum case issued the following statement.

"UEFA and the national associations are facing a case of organized crime which exceeds the investigative power of sports jurisdiction. They are grateful to the state authorities for their firm action, also in the interest of sport," reads the document.

UEFA and the national associations will contact the competent authorities in each country to obtain access to the relevant information involving clubs and individuals within their jurisdiction.

26.11.2009