BUCHAREST, May 20 (Reuters) - Seven Romanian top flight clubs have had points deducted by the country's football federation (FRF) for failing to put their financial affairs in order and meet licensing criteria.
Bottom club Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt, already relegated to the second tier, will start the 2015-2016 season with minus nine points while third-placed Petrolul Ploiesti and relegation-threatened CFR Cluj were hit with a six-point deduction.
In February, CFR Cluj were deducted 24 points by the Romanian Football League because of their inability to deal with spiralling debts.
Relegated Otelul Galati as well as Rapid Bucharest, Brasov and Universitatea Cluj-Napoca, who are all deep in relegation trouble, were deducted three points each, the FRF said in a statement on Wednesday.