UEFA ordered to pay €100,000 for defaming referee Maric
By Mark Doyle
May 28, 2014 7:31:00 PM
The Croat was investigated by the European game's governing body in relation to a game between Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split - but no charges were ever brought against him
Uefa have been ordered to pay damages of €100,000 to Bruno Maric after being found guilty of defaming the former referee.
Maric took the European game's governing body to court after being implicated in a match-fixing enquiry related to the 2009 Croatian Cup final between Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split.
He was questioned by Uefa investigators after awarding Dinamo a penalty and dismissing two Hajduk players but no charges were ever brought against him.
Maric decided to sue, seeking €1 million in damages and a formal apology.
A court in Daruva, Croatia, has now ruled in Maric's favour, with Judge Maja Sikora describing Uefa's investigation as "amateurish".
“I was not so concerned with the financial part of the judgment," Maric stated.
"For me the most important thing is that Uefa was found guilty for what it did to me and my family.
"This shows they cannot do whatever they want to people.”
Uefa has already confirmed its intention to appeal the ruling.
