Wales appeal rejected
Friday, March 19, 2004
Article summary
UEFA's Appeals Body has rejected the Wales's appeal against their UEFA EURO 2004™ play-off defeat by Russia.
Article body
Titov ban
The FAW had submitted its appeal on the grounds that Russian midfield player Yegor Titov was ineligible to play as a result of his positive doping test after the first leg in Moscow. Titov is now serving a 12-month worldwide ban after testing positive for the banned substance bromantan, which means he will miss EURO 2004™. Russia scored the only goal of the tie in Cardiff to qualify for the final tournament in Portugal this summer.
No evidence
"The Appeals Body based its decision in particular on the failure by the Welsh FA to present evidence of any implication of the Football Union of Russia in the alleged doping infringement, the occurrence of which was not established," said UEFA in a statement on Friday.
Individual liable
"Furthermore, the Appeals Body mentioned that the relevant UEFA regulations do not provide for a provision under which a team may be punished in the event of one of its players being tested positive," European football's governing body added.
