Football Flash

The latest in Romanian football

Steliu Lambru, 11.05.2017, 13:02

We start with the latest results of the 9th round in the second half of the regular season. In Group 1, CFR Cluj lost nil-3 at home to Dinamo Bucharest, CSU Craiova also lost narrowly to Viitorul Constanta nil-1 on home turf, while FCSB grabbed a 1-nil away win over Astra Giurgiu. Viitorul tops the League tables with 41 points, the same as runner-up FCSB, followed by Dinamo Bucharest with 39 points.

In Group 2, FC Voluntari beat Poli Timisoara 2-1, Concordia Chiajna won 2-nil against ASA Targu Mures, FC Botosani drew nil-all against Gaz Metan Medias, and finally Pandurii Targu Jiu trounced CSMS Iasi 3-nil away from home. The teams in the bottom four places will be relegated to the second division or will go through playoffs to remain in the first league. These teams are Concordia Chiajna, with 23 points, Poli Timisoara with 22 points, Pandurii Targu Jiu with 17 points and ASA Targu Mures with 13 points.

The final round of regular season will be played on Sunday and is due to decide the champion. There are three important matches in Group 1, which will kick off at 8 PM local time on Saturday. Dinamo will play Astra Giurgiu on home turf, FCSB will take on CSU Craiova while Viitorul will go up against CFR Cluj.

Ahead of Saturdays round, FCSB has filed a complaint against CSU Craiova with the Romanian Football Federations Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for “failure to observe the provisions stipulated by the statute and regulations of the Professional Football League and the Romanian Football Federation. More to the point, FCSB accuse Universitatea of deliberately using young and inexperienced players in the match pitting their team against FC Viitorul on May 7, thus allowing the team from Constanta to win.

In other news from football, Romania has been allowed to host four matches as part of the European Championship in 2020. According to UEFA regulations, host countries must be able to provide four UEFA-category stadiums, other than those hosting the matches, to be used in official training. The authorities have decided to modernize four stadiums: Arcul de Triumf, Steaua, Rapid and Dinamo. Dinamo stadium is currently being administered by the teams former financier. Interior Minister Carmen Dan has called on him to give up the contract to allow modernization works to start. If he refuses, the authorities will be modernizing the Cotroceni stadium instead.

(translated by: Vlad Palcu)