Football
Associated Press 8y

UEFA bans Dnipro, Inter Baku, Targu Mures from European play for 1 year

Last season's Europa League finalists Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk of Ukraine were among three clubs banned from European competition for one year by UEFA over financial issues.

UEFA says that Dnipro, Azerbaijan's Inter Baku and Romania's Targu Mures would be excluded from the next European competition for which they qualify in the next three seasons.

All three clubs had been ordered by UEFA to clear "overdue payables" and told they would be excluded from Europe unless they cleared those debts by Jan. 31.

Dnipro has struggled with financial problems, including players reportedly receiving only part of their wages, against a backdrop of political instability in Ukraine.

However, the club managed to reach last season's Europa League final, losing 3-2 to Sevilla, with star winger Yevhen Konoplyanka then sold to the Spanish club in the summer. Dnipro are currently fourth in the Ukrainian Premier League.

Inter Baku said they planned to appeal the UEFA ruling.

"On the basis of this ruling, Inter can apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to file an appeal," the club said in a statement. "Inter intends to use this right."

There was no word from UEFA on another Romanian club, Astra Giurgiu, which had been given the same Jan. 31 deadline.

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