(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-27 16:58

SOFIA - Bulgarian club Cherno More Varna are facing a UEFA investigation into alleged match-fixing during an Intertoto Cup game against Macedonia's Makedonija Skopje in July.

UEFA's Disciplinary Chief Inspector Gerhard Kapl told Bulgarian media on Monday that European soccer's governing body had been alerted to heavy and unusual betting on the first leg of the second round tie.

A UEFA spokesman said an investigation had been opened with initial hearings into the bribery charge due to take place on Thursday.

Kapl told Bulgarian Darik radio that Cherno More could face a ban from European competition if the allegations proved to be true. He said no action was being planned against Makedonija.

The match in question saw Cherno More win 4-0 away on July 7 with all the goals coming in the second half.

The Varna-based club went through 7-0 on aggregate to meet 1992 Champions League finalists Sampdoria in the third round.

Cherno More declined to comment but said they would hold a news conference at 0900 GMT on Tuesday.

This incident is the third to blight the normally low key Intertoto Cup this season.

Poland's Legia Warsaw were banned from Europe for two seasons after their fans rioted at a match against Lithuania's Vetra Vilnius, while the game between Estonia's TVMK Tallinn and Finland's FC Honka was investigated by UEFA over possible match-fixing.