UEFA Kick Metalist Kharkiv Out of Champions League

Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv have been expelled from the Champions League by UEFA because of match-fixing offences from 2008.

Metalist had already knocked out PAOK in a qualifying round and were due to face Schalke on August 21 and 27 in the next playoff round of the Champions League.

However, health UEFA have now acted after the club lost an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

UEFA will meet on Wednesday to ‘consider the consequences of the decision on the competition, apoplectic ’ with no clear indication as to what will happen to PAOK and Schalke.

Metalist, click runners-up in last season’s Ukrainian Premier League, could appeal to CAS again over the decision.

Fenerbahce were already re-entered into the competition after an appeal against their two-year ban was successful with the CAS.

CAS upheld the Ukraine Football Federation’s (FFU) decision to fine Metalist and FC Karpaty $25,000 each over match-fixing in a game played in April 2008.

CAS said that the two clubs ‘were held liable for the behaviour of their football players or officials under the principle of strict liability.’

Metalist Kharkiv played in the Europa League last year and made it to the first knockout round where they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Newcastle United.