ISTANBUL — UEFA President Michel Platini reiterated Thursday that combatting match-fixing was his organization's top priority.

"The greatest danger to football is match-fixing," Platini said. "UEFA is investing a lot to combat match-fixing.

Platini also defended a ruling that banned Macedonian club FK Pobeda from European competitions for eight years for rigging the outcome of a Champions League qualifier.

"It is a clear message that all those who are implicated in match-fixing and illegal betting will not be playing again," he said. "This was done to safeguard football."

Platini was speaking at a news conference following a ceremony in which last season's champion Zenit St. Petersburg handed over the UEFA Cup trophy ahead of the May 20 final to be played in Istanbul.

Two teams from Ukraine — Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donestsk — and two German teams — Werder Bremen and Hamburg — are in the running for the title.

It is the last time the competition is held under the UEFA Cup name and format. Next season the tournament will be renamed the Europa League.

Platini also restated that he favored a system whereby a referee could stop a game completely if fans are chanting racial slurs toward a player.

Platini said a referee would suspend the game for 10 minutes as a warning and end the game if racial abuse continues.

"A match is nothing compared to the seriousness of racism," Platini said.