Finnish Allianssi continue fight for return of license

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According to Reuters, the first-division club will submit a second appeal for a return of its league license, this time appealing to the top authorities within the football association.

"We have decided to appeal to have our league licence returned," club executive Erkki Salo said yesterday.

The club's license was revoked in January because of its lack of sponsors and mounting debt. The club first appealed to have its license in March, an appeal that was denied. This time, Salo said he would be submitting all the necessary documents to prove the club should be allowed back into the association.

"We would like to know precisely what pre-requisites the association have for issuing licences," Salo said.

The new Finnish football season kicks off later this month.

The club has been garnering negative publicity since last August when it lost 8-0 Haka Valkeakoski. After investigators found no evidence of match-fixing, the club was fined EUR 12,000 for insufficient preparations. Allianssi later severed its relationship with Chinese businessman Ye Zheyun, who had taken control of the club in June.  Ye has been wanted in for questioning concerning the ongoing match-fixing scandal in Belgium.