Bankrupt Austrian club GAK have decided to withdraw from the country's top division and accept a 28-point deduction, apparently ending a dispute which had threatened to disrupt Austrian soccer.GAK were planning to challenge the punishment -- handed down for various financial irregularities -- before the civil courts, claiming that the points deduction was contrary to Austrian bankruptcy regulations.
The league, the Austrian Football Association and several other top division clubs then threatened to bring their own actions against GAK, arguing that any civil court challenge could prompt FIFA to impose sporting sanctions on the country, including potential bans from European competition for Austrian clubs.
On Wednesday the club said it would accept the punishment and concentrate its efforts on securing a license to play in the second division.
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