Zvezdara withdraw from league

Severe financial difficulties have forced FK Zvezdara to become the first team ever to pull out of the Yugoslavian first division.

Huge debt
Zvezdara were in tenth place in the division prior to the winter break, but will not compete when fixtures resume on 2 March. The club owes its staff €140,000 and owner Dragan Trojanovic has turned down several bids to take over the company.

Owner explains decision
Trojanovic said: "This the most difficult moment in my life. Still, I think it is fairer to withdraw from the league than to continue in the competition with an amateur team. We simply do not have the money to pay the salaries due to players and coaching staff. We will start afresh next season and try to win back a place in the top flight."

Danger of quadruple relegation
However, the Yugoslav Football Association (FSJ) may decide to relegate the team to the fifth division, or impose a fine, when it becomes clearer whether the withdrawal from this season's competition could have been avoided - since Zvezdara's monetary problems were not considered as acute as those of other clubs.

Results will not be expunged
The FSJ has also ruled the all games played by Zvezdara this season will still count, with each team to play 33 matches rather than 34.