Partizan Belgrade banned from European competition for 3 seasons

Serbian SuperLiga side Partizan Belgrade has been banned from competing in Champions League football or the Europa League for the next three seasons, UEFA confirmed Wednesday.

The ruling is due to a violation of Articles 65(1), 66(1), and 66bis(1) of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations – all relating to unpaid debts.

UEFA ruled that the 2015 champions of Serbia amassed almost $2.6 million in unpaid debts as of this summer, owing the majority to social and tax authorities in Serbia, the Associated Press reports.

The three-year ban was deemed a suitable punishment due to the fact that Partizan failed to recognize unpaid debts on three separate occasions in the last five years.

Partizan fans will have to wait until the 2020-21 season before they have the prospect of seeing their side compete with Europe’s elite.