Decision on admission of FC Porto

FC Porto have been admitted to the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League, following a ruling by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body.

Previous
The case in question involved alleged events in the 2003/04 Portuguese championship, more specifically in connection with the Apito Dourado (golden whistle) case in Portugal. Following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 15 July 2008 to reject an appeal, the UEFA Appeals Body decision of 15 June 2008 was upheld. This decision had in turn returned the case to UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body for further consideration and decision, following its original decision to ban Porto from participating in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League.

Time specific
In making its new ruling, the Control and Disciplinary Body took account of the fact that according to paragraph 2.04(g) of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League regulations, a club that wishes to take part in the UEFA Champions League must not have been directly and/or indirectly involved, since the entry into force of Article 50(3) of the UEFA Statutes (edition 2007), ie 27 April 2007, in any activity aimed at arranging or influencing the outcome of a match at national or international level and must confirm this to the UEFA administration in writing.

Not authorised
Based on the UEFA disciplinary inspector's report and with reference to the time-specific criteria stipulated above, the Control and Disciplinary Body noted that it was therefore not authorised to rule on the admission or exclusion of Porto, and has closed its investigation and struck it off the list of cases.