PAOK to replace Metalist in Champions League

Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv have been thrown out of this year's Champions League over match-fixing claims, and will be replaced by PAOK of Greece, UEFA said on Wednesday. PAOK, who had lost 3-1 on aggregate to Metalist in the third qualifying round, will now face Schalke 04 of Germany in a play-off to enter the group stage of the competition on August 21 and 27. UEFA added that PAOK, who had been due to drop down into the Europa League, will not be replaced in that competition, meaning their scheduled play-off round opponents, Maccabi Tel-Aviv of Israel, advance directly to the group stage. "This decision is final," said European football's governing body, although they acknowledged that Metalist can still appeal the disqualification to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Ukrainian club in early August after suspicions were raised about matches they were involved in. Given that qualifying for this year's competition was already under way, the case was heard directly by UEFA's appeals tribunal. "The UEFA Appeals Body carefully analysed the statements and documents submitted by the club, as well as the statements and documents submitted by the UEFA Disciplinary Inspector and reached the following decision: FC Metalist Kharkiv are disqualified from the 2013/14 UEFA competitions," UEFA said. Source: AFP