Madrid, 26 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Spanish top flight club Osasuna said on Tuesday they are eligible to compete in the next Conference League after the ruling body UEFA have nullified their exclusion in connection with a match-fixing affair dating back to 2014.

The Pamplona club said that the case brought to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after an unsuccessful first appeal at UEFA has now ended.

"In view of the new evidence provided by the club in defense of its participation in the competition, UEFA has concluded that Osasuna was a victim of the events that occurred almost a decade ago," a club statement said.

"Consequently, UEFA considers Osasuna suitable to participate in this edition of the European competition."

Back in 2014, Osasuna representatives were alleged to have paid two Real Betis players to make a big effort in the penultimate matchday game against Valladolid who were fighting relegation together with Osasuna.

Three years ago several players, officials and businessmen were given prison sentences over the affair, the first such sentences for fixing in Spanish football.

Osasuna had said in the first unsuccessful appeal against the exclusion by UEFA that Spanish justice authorities had named the club a victim of the wrongdoings committed by some officials.

It said UEFA has now accepted the new evidence and that it will be in the upcoming Conference League play-off draw, after qualifying for Europe's third tier event for the first time by coming seventh in the past La Liga season.

Photo: EPA