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Sampdoria cleared to play in Europa League after UEFA investigation

Sampdoria have been given the all-clear to play in next season's Europa League.

Samp's place was confirmed as they were included on UEFA's list of participants for the 2015-16 competition.

Reports in the Italian press claimed Samp risked being denied their place due to a 2012 betting scandal that saw the club deducted a point and one of their players, Stefano Guberti, banned for three years for match fixing.

However, following an investigation carried out by UEFA, Samp have been allowed to participate.

"I never doubted it and I always said so," Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero said in a statement on his club's official website. "I always believed and will always continue to believe in the good faith of Sampdoria, in UEFA and the [Italian Football Federation] FIGC's work.

"I thank all of them, especially our legal team that has monitored this situation. I'm delighted for Sampdoria and for our fans.

"With pride and fair play and with the most beautiful jersey in the world, we will represent Genoa, Liguria, Italy in Europe."

Samp finished seventh in Serie A and only qualified for the Europa League as city rivals Genoa, who finished sixth, were denied a UEFA licence from the FIGC last month after missing a deadline to present documents and failing to name a suitable stadium to play in.

Samp will join Fiorentina and Napoli in the Europa League, and will find out on July 17 who they will face in the third qualifying round of the competition.

Sampdoria will be coached by Walter Zenga next season after Sinisa Mihajlovic left the club before taking charge of AC Milan this week.