Malaga banned from European competition

Outstanding debts have led to decision, although Spanish club are clear to continue in this season's Champions League

Martyn Ziegler
Friday 21 December 2012 11:31 EST
Comments
Malaga's Portuguese midfielder Duda celebrates with his teammates after scoring during the Champions League Group C match Malaga against Anderlecht
Malaga's Portuguese midfielder Duda celebrates with his teammates after scoring during the Champions League Group C match Malaga against Anderlecht (GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Spanish side Malaga have been banned from European competition for one season due to outstanding debts.

The club has also been threatened with a further year's European ban by UEFA unless they prove they have no debts to other clubs, players or the tax authorities.

Malaga are currently fourth in the Primera Division but have had huge struggles with financial problems.

The ban will be imposed if the club qualified for the Champions League or Europa League during any of the next four seasons.

UEFA says it will impose the additional ban unless Malaga provides the proof it has cleared its debts of 'overdue payables' by March 31. It has also fined the club 300,000 euros.

A UEFA statement said: "UEFA's club financial control body has taken its first decisions due to the presence of significant overdue payables.

"The club [Malaga] is excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competitions for which it would otherwise qualify for in the next four seasons."

Five other clubs face similar one-year bans during any of the next three seasons unless they can convince UEFA they have cleared the stipulated debts. They are Hadjuk Split and Osijek from Croatia, Rapid Bucharest and Dinamo Bucharest from Romania, and Partizan Belgrade from Serbia.

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in