CFR Cluj judicial administrator argues against European ban as point deduction looms

The judicial administrator of CFR Cluj has argued that the club should not be barred from European competitions, even though it entered insolvency in August 2026. Răzvan Zăvăleanu stated that if the team qualifies for continental tournaments through its league or cup position, it must be allowed to participate. He asserted that Romanian law does not permit imposing a ban on the club's European participation under these circumstances.

Zăvăleanu referenced previous legal attempts by other clubs to challenge similar restrictions. He noted that Rapid had previously tried to take similar legal action but failed because they used incorrect legal grounds. This distinction suggests CFR Cluj intends to pursue a different legal strategy to maintain its eligibility for international play.

While the debate over European eligibility continues, the club faces an immediate domestic threat. The Romanian Football Federation found irregularities at CFR Cluj, UTA and Petrolul regarding their financial situations. The sanctions relate to the status of club debts on 30 June 2026, when the federation's monitoring procedures closed. The teams face penalties because they did not clarify their financial debt situation by that deadline.

Reports indicate that CFR Cluj could lose six of its 17 points accumulated after 13 SuperLiga rounds. A six-point deduction would drop the club from ninth place to 14th, placing them just above the direct relegation zone. At the time of the reports, CFR Cluj occupied ninth place with 17 points, while UTA Arad was eighth and Petrolul Ploiești was fourth. Penalties could be announced within the next 10 days.

Head coach Marius Șumudică reacted strongly to the news of the potential penalty. The 55-year-old stated he was not informed about the potential penalty and had not seen it reported elsewhere before the media coverage. He expressed that he would not accept even a one-point deduction for work done on the pitch.

Șumudică threatened to end his collaboration with CFR Cluj if the team is deducted points. He stated he would resign immediately and take the first plane home to leave Cluj if the bureaucratic decision to deduct points is made. This stance highlights the tension between the coaching staff and the administrative handling of the club's financial obligations.