By Mark Baber
June 19 – Despite concerns expressed in the Italian media that Sampdoria might be excluded from European competitions next season, the club has been included on UEFA’s list of participants for the 2015-16 competition.
Sampdoria were deducted a point and one of their players, Stefano Guberti, banned for three years for match fixing as part of the 2012 betting scandal, but following a UEFA investigation this has not proven to be an obstacle to the club’s participation in the Europa League.
Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero said in a statement on the club’s official website, “I never doubted it and I always said so. I always believed and will always continue to believe in the good faith of Sampdoria, in UEFA and the FIGC’s work.
“I thank all of them, especially our legal team that has monitored this situation. I’m delighted for Sampdoria and for our fans.
“With pride and fair play and with the most beautiful jersey in the world, we will represent Genoa, Liguria, Italy in Europe.”
Sampdoria finished seventh in the Serie A, but qualified for Europe after Genoa were denied a UEFA licence by the FIGC.
Sampdoria will now enter the third qualifying round of the Europa League, to the disappointment of Inter who were next in line for a place in the competition, if Sampdoria had been excluded.
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