FC Sioni Bolnisi
Encyclopedia
FC Sioni Bolnisi is a Georgia
n football
club based in Bolnisi
. The club was founded in 1936.
After spending several years in the lower divisions of Georgian football between 1990 and 1995, Sioni won promotion to Umaglesi Liga
for the 1995/96 season and have been playing there ever since. In the 2003/04 season, Sioni and FC WIT Georgia
shared the first position in the league, and the title was decided in a championship playoff. WIT won the match 2-0, but the crowd violence during the match lead UEFA to ban Sioni from the UEFA Cup
participation.
However, in 2005/06, Sioni won the league and represented Georgia in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07
, where they defeated FK Baku
from Azerbaijan
in the first qualifying round, but were eliminated by Bulgaria
n champions Levski Sofia in the second stage, losing 2-0 both home and away.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in Bolnisi
Bolnisi
Bolnisi , is a city in the country of Georgia, located in the Kvemo Kartli region and capital of the Bolnisi district. Currently has an estimated 13,800 inhabitants....
. The club was founded in 1936.
After spending several years in the lower divisions of Georgian football between 1990 and 1995, Sioni won promotion to Umaglesi Liga
Umaglesi Liga
The Georgian Top League is the top division of football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union...
for the 1995/96 season and have been playing there ever since. In the 2003/04 season, Sioni and FC WIT Georgia
FC WIT Georgia
FC WIT Georgia is a Georgian football team, playing in the capital, Tbilisi. The team is sponsored by WIT Georgia Ltd, , a pet food, accessories, and human and veterinary pharmaceuticals import company. WIT stands for World Innovation Technologies...
shared the first position in the league, and the title was decided in a championship playoff. WIT won the match 2-0, but the crowd violence during the match lead UEFA to ban Sioni from the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
participation.
However, in 2005/06, Sioni won the league and represented Georgia in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07
UEFA Champions League 2006-07
The 2006–07 UEFA Champions League was the 15th season of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League, since it was rebranded from the European Cup, and the 52nd season overall. The final was contested by Milan and Liverpool on 23 May 2007...
, where they defeated FK Baku
FK Baku
Football Club Baku is an Azerbaijani football club in Baku, Azerbaijan. The club sponsored by the Baghlan Group Company and ZQAN Holding.FC Baku plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League and have won two Azerbaijan Premier League championships and two Azerbaijan Cups.-History:FC Baku was founded in...
from Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in the first qualifying round, but were eliminated by Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n champions Levski Sofia in the second stage, losing 2-0 both home and away.