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Caught in the act... John Laverty

The referee at the centre of the Dinamo Tbilisi bribes scandal DID accept the 5,000 dollars offered by the Georgian club prior to their European Cup match with Linfield.

But Mr Erman Torughu handed over the cash to UEFA on Thursday as evidence of a bribe, prompting Tbilisi's sensational dismissal from the competition.

Tbilisi have 48 hours to appeal the decision but it looks as if Linfield are back in the competition - and suddenly £ 100,000 better off courtesy of UEFA payments and television rights.

The news was greeted like a pools win at Windsor Park, a mix of euphoria and amazement.
Chairman David Campbell said: "We 're still in a state of shock over this development.
"As far as we were concerned Tbilisi had won the tie fair and square.

"The idea of them trying to bribe the Turkish officials is nothing short of astonishing."
Manager Trevor Anderson added: "I 've played all over Europe and have never come across this sort of thing before.
"I suppose we should be flattered that Dinamo Tbilisi felt they needed a little help to get past us.

"It's an unsavoury business but anyone involved in this sort of corruption deserves everything they get."

FC Copenhagen, who were due to play Tbilisi in the first round proper, have no doubt that Linfield will now be their opponents - in Belfast on Wednesday week.
Manager Benne Johannsen said: "We are already making travel arrangements for Belfast.
"I can't see UEFA overturning their decision. They do not make decisions like this on the spur of the moment. The evidence against them appears to be overwhelming."

Johannsen accompanied Linfield to Tbilisi for the first leg game in Georgia, and like everyone else was unaware of the cash offer to the Turkish officials.

"It took me completely by surprise," he said.
"Having said that I 'm not disappointed that we 're set to play Linfield and not Tbilisi.
"I saw at first hand the problems Linfield had with travel arrangements and communications... give me Belfast every time."

It's likely Tbilisi will appeal the decision, with UEFA hearing it next Saturday - but FC Copenhagen would like a earlier confirmation. "As far as we 're concerned we will arrive in Belfast a week from Monday. A Saturday decision would give us very little time to alter our plans," said the manager.

The first inkling that something was amiss came on Wednesday, when Linfield were requested by UEFA to organise flights for Tbilisi officials to Geneva.

The Blues suspected the Georgians would be carpeted for their haphazard arranging of the first leg tie; the Windsor Park club had already complained to UEFA about this.

But Linfield had no idea that Dinamo were being investigated for suspected bribery.
Secretary Derek Brooks said: "We arranged flights for club president Marab Jordania and Georgian FA president Nodar Akhalkatsi; they flew to Geneva while the rest of the party took a chartered flight to Georgia.
"There was no inkling that a bribery scandal was about to unfold; we certainly didn't instigate it."
A UEFA spokesman explained: "The referee presented his match report which stated that money had been offered to both him and his officials.
"He presented this as evidence at our investigation on Thursday and the action we took was as a direct consequence."
