FRF rejects government decision

The Romanian Football Federation's (FRF) Judicial Commission has deemed the Ministry for Youth and Sports' (MTS) decision to overturn FC Dinamo Bucuresti and FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt's punishments for match-fixing illegal.

Points deduction
The FRF's Executive Committee ruled both clubs should be deducted three points and fined €4800, as well as suspending and fining three players, after finding that their game on 10 March, which Dinamo won 2-1, was rigged. However, both clubs appealed recently to the MTS, who last week stated the FRF acted improperly in handing out punishments without a proper hearing or right of appeal.

'The FRF has rushed'
Georgiu Gingaras, the Minister for Youth and Sports, said at the time: "Under the pressure which existed it seems that the FRF has rushed and didn't respect the procedure in this case." FRF general secretary Adalbert Kassai immediately hit back, saying: "I don't know if the MTS has the right to interfere in the FRF's decisions. There will be a meeting of our Judical Commission in order to see if the MTS really has this right."

'Make recommendations'
That meeting took place today and Sorin Amarascu, the head of the Judicial Commission, said afterwards: "The MTS only has a role of surveillance and therefore can only make recommendations regarding decisions taken by the FRF." Amarascu revealed that he has asked the Executive Committee to re-examine the case, but only after the Disciplinary Committee and Appeal Committee have first done so or it would be unlawful.

Thursday decision
The Executive Committee will decide on Thursday whether to respect the Judicial Commission's request but Amarascu will not be involved in any decision making. "We don't want to make judicial mistakes," said FRF president Mircea Sandu.  Gingaras refused to comment, although he did state that the MTS will pay close attention to any action taken by the FRF.