Dinamo and Ceahlaul punished
Thursday, March 21, 2002
Article summary
FC Dinamo Bucuresti and FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt have been punished for match-fixing.
Article body
Romanian league leaders FC Dinamo Bucuresti and FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt have had points deducted and received fines after being found guilty of match-fixing.
Handed 3-0 defeats
The executive committee of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) ruled after a five-hour meeting today that the result of the sides' round 16 meeting on 10 March should not stand. Dinamo won the match 2-1 at Ceahlaul but both teams have now been handed 3-0 defeats and fined €2,800. Given they lost the match anyway, Ceahlaul have been deducted an additional three points and three of their players - Angelo Alistar, Florin Axinia and Marian Purica - have received three-match suspensions and €150 fines.
Serious blow to Ceahlaul
Dinamo remain top of the Divizia A table with 35 points, now just two points clear of second-placed FC National Bucuresti. FC Steaua Buchuresti are a further two points back in third place. The loss of three points is a serious blow to Ceahlaul who slip closer to the relegation zone. With 21 points, they are tenth in the table and in danger of facing a promotion-relegation play-off at the end of the season.
'Played at a poor tempo'
The first suggestion that the game was fixed came from Steaua coach Victor Piturca, who said he feared this would the case beforehand. After the game, he said the result was what he had expected and called for both clubs to be punished. Dinamo had never won in Piatra Neamt in their history. Two days after the game, the FA's surveillance committee declared: "There was no evidence of a fixed game, but it was played at a poor tempo and without commitment. Six players, five from Ceahlaul and one from Dinamo, did not play to their real potential."
Gingaras threat
The six players subsequently spoke to a special FA commission and all denied that the match was fixed. The case was also submitted to the civil prosecutor and yesterday, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Georgiu Gingaras, threatened to launch his own enquiry if the executive committee did not take action. "In my opinion, this game was a like a friendly," said Gingaras.
