UEFA ban for Olympiakos Volo

Olympiakos Volo’s Europa League adventure has ended prematurely after being expelled from the competition by UEFA.

Governing body UEFA have handed the Greek club a three-year ban from the continental competition after their alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

Olympiakos Volo were originally relegated from the Greek Super League amid the corruption affair, while the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) also handed the club a 10-point deduction for the 2011-12 season.

Their satus in the domestic top-flight has since been reinstated, along with that of another implicated club, Kavala.

UEFA said in a media statement on Thursday: “Olympiakos Volos FC have been excluded from this season’s Europa League and given a further three-year ban from UEFA competition, deferred for a probationary period of five seasons, after breaching Article 5 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations.”

The club said they will appeal the decision.

Olympiakos Volo were set to play Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain next week in the final play-off round before the Europa League group stage.