A Croatian court on Tuesday ruled that UEFA should pay a local referee some 100,000 euros ($136,000) in damages after unfounded accusations of match-fixing. Referee Bruno Maric pressed charges against European football's governing body last year. He sought one million euros in damages and a public apology after his name was linked with alleged rigging of the 2009 Croatian Cup final. "For me the most important is that UEFA was found guilty for what it did to me and my family," state-run news agency Hina quoted Maric as saying after the ruling.
His lawyer said he would appeal the verdict. Maric was questioned by Robin Boksic, who was later dismissed from UEFA's team of investigators. The charges against the Croatian referee have never been brought. UEFA representatives had tried to settle the matter out of court, but to no avail. The trial before the tribunal in the eastern town of Daruvar opened last year. UEFA chief Michel Platini was called to attend, but never did. Croatian football has been rocked by financial problems, match-fixing and bribing scandals in recent years.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014

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