Porto deducted six points

Porto have been deducted six points by Portuguese football authorities for attempting to fix league matches.

The league’s disciplinary committee ruled that Porto tried to bribe referees in two matches in the 2003/04 season, and, as well as the points deduction, have been fined €150,000 (£119,000) and barred chairman Jorge Pinto da Costa from the bench during matches for two years.

The league’s disciplinary committee has also relegated Boavista to the second division and fined the club €180,000 (£143,500) after being found guilty of trying to coerce referees in three games in the 2003/04 season.

Referees

The club’s chairman at the time, Joao Loureiro, was suspended for four years and fined €25,000 (£19,000).

Leiria, also a top-flight club but unable to avoid relegation this year, were found guilty of trying to bribe match officials the same season and was docked three points while fined €40,000 (£31,000). The club’s chairman was suspended for one year.

Five referees have also been suspended for up to six years after being found guilty of corruption.

The sanctions are to take effect within three working days unless appeals were lodged. All three clubs denied the charges.

Champions

The points deduction will not prevent Porto from lifting their third consecutive league title, as the club will still maintain a 14-point lead going into Sunday’s final fixtures.

The committee’s president Ricardo Costa said officials questioned 85 people during the investigation and compiled a case file containing almost 1,000 pages.

He said in a televised press conference: “These decisions were unanimous. Five people agreed with the penalties to be applied.”