Serbian Superliga club Kolubara handed nine-point deduction over match-fixing

STARA PAZOVA - Kolubara Lazarevac are practically out of the Serbian football Superliga after being handed a nine-point deduction by the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) over match-fixing and damage to the integrity of matches, the FSS announced on Tuesday.

Prior to the deduction, Kolubara were in tenth place in the league play-off table with 38 points but are now at the bottom with 29 points, and Mladost Novi Sad are one position above with 30 points.

Regardless of the results of the last play-out round, the two clubs are certain to be relegated to the Serbian League One as their closest rivals in the drop zone, Radnik Surdulica and Javor Ivanjica, have 34 points each.

"At today's meeting, the Disciplinary Commission made a decision on reports by the relevant UEFA bodies against Kolubara Lazarevac, Spartak Subotica, Mladost Novi Sad and RFK Novi Sad, clubs whose actions or inaction have jeopardised and damaged the integrity of football matches and competition in the Superliga and League One," an FSS statement said.

Besides the point deduction for Kolubara, the commission issued 3 mln dinar fines to Spartak and Mladost.

It said the punishments had been handed out over the Mladost vs Kolubara, Kolubara vs Spartak and RFK Novi Sad vs Radnicki New Belgrade ties.

The FSS also said proceedings for the RFK Novi Sad vs Radnicki New Belgrade match had been halted due to a lack of evidence.

(1 euro = 117.2 dinars)