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26th Nov 2015

Denmark could be offered Euro 2016 lifeline after match-fixing allegations

It's 1992 all over again

Kevin Beirne

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before – Denmark could be given a second shot at the Euros despite failing to qualify.

The Danes famously won Euro 92 after they filled in for Yugoslavia, who were forced to withdraw from the tournament after civil war broke out.

Now it’s another Balkan country who may have to make way to allow Denmark to compete at the Euros after the head of the Armenian FA cast doubt over the legitimacy of his side’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Albania.

Denmark finished two points behind Albania in Group I and were defeated in a play-off against Sweden, but would have gone through had the two finished level on points because of a superior head-to-head record.

Denmark v Sweden - UEFA EURO 2016 Qualifier: Play-Off Second Leg

But Ruben Hayrapetian, the head of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), has claimed that Albania’s 3-0 win to secure qualification may have been fixed, saying a “betrayal” took place during the match.

“The national team belongs to the entire nation. It is appropriate that everyone should be dissatisfied. As president of the federation I am going to do everything to overcome this crisis,” Hayrapetian said, according to World Soccer.

“Our national team players simply do not want to play. As for the match against Albania, there was a betrayal during it. If even the best coach had headed our team during the match against Albania, the result would have been the same.”

It’s a big accusation to make, and one which you would think Uefa will have to look into.