(Reuters) - European soccer's governing body UEFA on Wednesday launched an investigation into allegations of match-fixing surrounding Saturday's Armenia-Greece European Championship qualifier.
UEFA said that a disciplinary inspector would look at the allegations made by Ruben Hayrapetian, president of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), to the match delegate that approaches were made to Armenia to fix the game in favor of Greece.
"The inspector has been asked to look at all aspects of the allegations including the way in which the allegations were made," UEFA's director of communications and public affairs Mike Lee said on Wednesday.
"Once the inspection is complete, UEFA will decide what and if any future steps are needed."
The inspector has been asked to report back ahead of the final series of qualifying matches, which take place on October 11, UEFA said.
Greece, who won the game 1-0 in Yerevan to move within striking distance of automatic qualification for next year's finals in Portugal, have denied any suggestion that they offered to bribe Armenia. The win over Armenia put Greece top of Group Six with 15 points, four in front of favorites Spain and five ahead of Ukraine. Victory over Northern Ireland next month would take the Greeks to their second European Championship after first appearing in 1980.
"It seems the performance of the national squad have caused problems to many who didn't expect it," the Greek FA said in a statement on Monday. "Greece played fair and won."
Before the defeat to Greece, Armenia -- who play Northern Ireland on Wednesday -- had no chance of qualification for the finals. They are fourth in the group with four points from six matches.
(Photolur photo: Striker Zisis Vryzas, left, scoring Greece's winning goal against Armenia on Saturday, September 6.)
UEFA said that a disciplinary inspector would look at the allegations made by Ruben Hayrapetian, president of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), to the match delegate that approaches were made to Armenia to fix the game in favor of Greece.
"The inspector has been asked to look at all aspects of the allegations including the way in which the allegations were made," UEFA's director of communications and public affairs Mike Lee said on Wednesday.
"Once the inspection is complete, UEFA will decide what and if any future steps are needed."
The inspector has been asked to report back ahead of the final series of qualifying matches, which take place on October 11, UEFA said.
Greece, who won the game 1-0 in Yerevan to move within striking distance of automatic qualification for next year's finals in Portugal, have denied any suggestion that they offered to bribe Armenia. The win over Armenia put Greece top of Group Six with 15 points, four in front of favorites Spain and five ahead of Ukraine. Victory over Northern Ireland next month would take the Greeks to their second European Championship after first appearing in 1980.
"It seems the performance of the national squad have caused problems to many who didn't expect it," the Greek FA said in a statement on Monday. "Greece played fair and won."
Before the defeat to Greece, Armenia -- who play Northern Ireland on Wednesday -- had no chance of qualification for the finals. They are fourth in the group with four points from six matches.
(Photolur photo: Striker Zisis Vryzas, left, scoring Greece's winning goal against Armenia on Saturday, September 6.)