Scotland Women U19s forfeit European Championship qualifier against Serbia
Thursday 29 September 2016 15:47, UK
UEFA has ordered the Scotland Women U19 side to forfeit their European Championship qualifier against Serbia.
The Scots were forced to call off the match at Durres in Albania on September 19 after nine players and eight members of the backroom staff were found to be suffering from acute gastroenteritis.
In a statement the Scottish Football Association said a local doctor had visited the team and the game was postponed following his diagnosis.
There were allegations on news websites in Serbia that the Scotland side had been too drunk to play the match but these were quickly dismissed by the SFA.
However, despite the doctor's involvement, UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Scotland for refusing to play against Serbia and the Ethics and Disciplinary board has now deemed Scotland to have lost the match 3-0.
Hampden chiefs had hoped they would receive a sympathetic verdict after being told the disciplinary complaint was standard procedure.
The match would have decided the winners of Group 4 as both teams had previously beaten Albania and Cyprus.
Serbia therefore advance to the next qualifying stage as group winners after being handed their third win, although Scotland still progress as one of the 10 best runners-up from the 11 groups after scoring 19 goals in their wins against Albania and Cyprus..
