UEFA suspends two Armenian match officials

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UEFA has suspended two Armenian match officials after they admitted to attempted match-fixing in a Europa League match last month.

Referee Andranik Arsenyan and assistant Hovhannes Avagyan admitted to attempting to manipulate the outcome of the first qualifying round second leg match between FC Inter Turku and Vikingur on July 11.

The UEFA betting fraud detection system had detected suspicious betting patterns around the fixture which finished 1-0 to Vikingur and an investigation had already been launched.

The two officials were called before the Executive Committee of the Football Federation of Armenia yesterday where they admitted their roles.

A disciplinary procedure has now been launched by UEFA and both officials are suspended until the case is dealt with on August 22 in Nyon.

A statement on www.uefa.com read: "UEFA yesterday took note of the decision of the Executive Committee of the Football Federation of Armenia (HFF) with regard to the referee and assistant referee who officiated at the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round match between FC Inter Turku and Vikingur on 11 July 2013.

"In a hearing at the HFF, referee Andranik Arsenyan and assistant referee Hovhannes Avagyan admitted having tried to manipulate the outcome of the second-leg game, which ended 1-0 in favour of Vikingur."

The statement continued: "Today, the chairman of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has decided to suspend with immediate effect, and for any football-related activities, both match officials.

"At the same time, a disciplinary proceeding has been opened in accordance with Article 12 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (integrity of matches and competitions, and match-fixing).

"The case will be dealt with by the Control and Disciplinary Body on Thursday 22 August at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland."


Source : http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11959/8859594/uefa-suspends-two-armenian-match-officials