Steaua identity fraud threatens to banish champions from the UCL

FCSB is the champion of Romanian football for a second consecutive season.

Inter Club d’Escaldes, the first round of Champions League qualifying, will be played in mid-July by this club owned by controversial figure Gigi Bécali.

However, Steaua Bucharest, the historic club that won the European Cup in 1986, has urged the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) to relegate FCSB to the fifth division and to notify UEFA that FCSB should be excluded from European competitions.

The context: FCSB stripped of Steaua’s name and identity

This is a very common mistake. Many people confuse FCSB (Federal Computer Services Board) with Steaua.

FCSB, which is often called “Steaua” and plays in the Romanian Second League while Steaua Bucharest currently plays in the second tier of the league, is the highest division.

It is not correct.

As previously reported, Romanian courts have ruled FCSB illegally used Steaua’s name, brand and honours from 2003 to 2017. EWN. The court stripped FCSB its name and identity but not its place in league.

FCSB maintained its top-flight standing despite a controversial registration during the 2002/03 football season. They also continued to use unofficially the Steaua name. Even in Europe they’ve remained competitive, making it to the Europa League Round of 16 this season.

The world is about to change dramatically.

Steaua demanded FCSB’s relegation, and Champions League ban

Florin Talpan, the legal adviser for Steaua Bucharest — and the man who has won all legal battles against FCSB so far — has formally requested the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) to relegate FCSB to the fifth division and to notify UEFA that FCSB should be excluded from European competitions.

What was his argument? Final, irrevocable ruling: “FCSB has no legal right to Steaua Bucharest’s record, brand history, or sporting identity.”

Talpan claims that FCSB is now in violation of the law for participating in the Romanian First League as well as UEFA competitions.

He also asked the Federation to give Steaua an entry into the Romanian First League. For now, Steaua – owned by Romania’s Ministry of National Defence – found itself stuck in the second tier, despite winning promotion on the pitch. This is because Romanian sports law forbids the state from owning teams in the First Division.

Inter Club d’Escaldes might be handed a spot in the next round.

Steaua has fought a long and complex legal and moral battle.

Not only FCSB but also the Romanian Football Federation has delayed informing UEFA of the situation. FRF has been citing the lack of a court ruling for years. That excuse no longer holds.

If Talpan’s request is accepted, Inter Club d’Escaldes — a club from a small Andorran town near the Spanish border and with a largely Spanish squad — could unexpectedly receive a free pass to the next round.

What is the likelihood of this happening?

EWN asked AS47 (Asociația Steliștilor 1947 – The Association of Steaua Supporters) how viable Talpan’s action really is.

“Sporting Truth must Prevail, Not Personal or Group Interests.” “Unfortunately, in Romania, the laws and regulations are applied with preference, based upon economic interests, media pressure, or political pressures,” AS47 stated. EWN.

Then, they continue:

“After winning irrevocably and definitively for years, the Romanian Football Federation continues to ignore justice, protecting an entity who operates outside of the law. FCSB, lacking any claim to Steaua București’s brand and honours, illegally entered first division by breaching regulations. It should have been disaffiliated for using an identity that was not its own. This would have happened to any serious European country.”

What’s Next

Talpan says that the FRF is yet to respond, but should do so within ten days.

FCSB’s FCSB owner, Gigi becali, has however denied the allegations. Tomorrow I will go to London and request that Manchester United is relegated from UEFA competitions and banned. Just for fun… It’s a joke,” he told Digi Sport.

The Court of Appeal’s decision is final. What more can be said? FCSB’s continuity has been consistent since 2003. It’s true! They say we cannot claim the records because we did not exist at that time. What else can we say? “We have maintained continuity and hold all records dating back to 2003,” he said.

Whether UEFA and the Romanian Federation finally act upon the court rulings remains to seen.

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