Ħamrun Spartans to discover UEFA verdict on Champions League participation on Tuesday

Ħamrun Spartans are expected to receive UEFA’s verdict on whether they will meet its criteria to compete in this season’s Champions League on Tuesday.

The Spartans, who last month were declared as the 2020-21 Premier League champions, were summoned virtually in front of UEFA’s Appeals Body on Monday in a bid to earn the green light to compete in this season’s European football’s most prestigious competition.

In the last few years, the European governing body of football analysed thoroughly applications from clubs who had returned to UEFA clubs competitions following their involvement in a match-fixing case.

Last week, a prosecutor from UEFA’s Ethics and Disciplinary Body compiled a report on the Spartans’ case that dates back to season 2012-13 season when the club was found guilty of match-fixing and two members of the club committee were handed a life ban.

 On Monday, lawyers representing the Spartans went in front of the UEFA Appeals Board to challenge the report from the UEFA prosecutor who made his arguments on why the Spartans should not be allowed to compete

The UEFA Appeals Body were due to reach a verdict on Monday but no decision was communicated to the Premier League club or the Malta Football Association.

The Spartans are now expected to discover their fate on Tuesday.

Should the Spartans be declined from competing in the Champions League they can lodge another appeal in front of the Court of Arbitration of Sport, with the hearing likely to take place before next week’s draw.