Ex-Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu stripped of professional club status after recording humiliating goal difference
FORMER Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu, who famously beat West Ham, have been stripped of their professional status after their latest humiliation.
In 2016, they famously landed their first and only league title in their homeland.
However, last season they were relegated to the third tier and the financial burden of plummeting down the divisions took its toll.
After just seven games of this campaign, and a humiliating goal difference of no goals scored and 66 conceded, the Romanian Football Federation accepted the club had to be demoted from their professional status.
Astra were forced to throw in the towel after a sanction from Fifa prevented them from registering players and forming a competitive team.
Astra released the statement: “Considering the fact that Fifa imposed the ban on us to register players, the club ended up in the situation of not being able to form its squad.
“We are in the unfortunate situation of not being able to get out of this impasse, although we do not owe the amounts claimed.
“We cannot escape the sanction imposed abusively by Fifa and we are in the situation of not having a full batch of players.
“Under these conditions, we are forced to request the withdrawal from the 3rd League National Championship.”
In their last match against Pucioasa, Astra were unable to finish the game because several starters suffered injuries, while another player collapsed on the pitch.
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Only seven years ago, Astra were crowned champions of Romania under the stewardship of Rapid Bucharest legend Marius Sumudica.
Months after landing the league title, they recorded their most famous win – beating West Ham over two legs in the Europa League.
After drawing the first leg 1-1 in Romania, the Premier League side were expected to record a comfortable win at the London Stadium.
However, Astra had other ideas – shocking the hosts 1-0 thanks to a Filipe Teixeira strike – a goal that went down in folklore for the now former pro side.