Osasuna kicked out of Conference League as UEFA dismiss their appeal

UEFA's Appeals Committee has announced their decision to leave Club Atlético Osasuna out of the 2023-2024 Conference League.

The LaLiga club will not be able to participate in European competitions next season following the verdict of the investigation in relation to match-fixing in two matches in the 2013-2014 season.

The UEFA Appeals Committee did not take into account the allegations that Osasuna presented last Friday, thus reaffirming the initial ruling of the inspectors of the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.

UEFA's investigation was triggered by a Supreme Court ruling that Osasuna were involved in match-fixing in two games in the 2013-2014 season. Specifically, the board of directors of those years are accused of crimes of misappropriation, false documentation, sporting corruption and accounting offences, charges that will spoil the sporting merits achieved by Osasuna last season.

The Appeals Committee's decision to leave Osasuna out of the 2023-2024 Conference League also means that Athletic Bilbao will now take their place in the European competition, as they were the next team in last season's league standings.

This is the official statement from Osasuna:

"The UEFA Appeals Committee has today taken the decision to leave Club Atlético Osasuna out of the 2023-2024 Conference League. The members of the UEFA Appeals Committee did not take into account the allegations submitted by the club last Friday and reaffirmed the initial ruling of the inspectors of the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Committee. The reasons for the Appeal Committee's decision to exclude Osasuna will be communicated to the club in the coming days.

"Club Atlético Osasuna does not share at all UEFA's criteria nor the investigation of the case carried out and regrets the wrong message that UEFA sends to the football world by punishing those who denounce corruption and pursue it judicially.

"Finally, Club Atlético Osasuna will continue to deploy all the legal instruments at its disposal to stand up to UEFA and put an end to what it considers to be a serious violation of its rights."