NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The Cyprus Football Association is vowing to impose severe penalties on clubs suspected of match-fixing after UEFA ranked the country’s championship to be among the worst offenders in Europe.

Marios Lefkaritis, the association’s honorary president and a UEFA vice president, tells The Associated Press that he was “ashamed and shocked” when told by UEFA of the problem’s extent.

He says UEFA suspects six first-division matches and a domestic cup match may have been fixed since September. He says since 2011, the Cyprus FA has received files on 75 matches suspected of being fixed.

The Cyprus FA said Monday that penalties could include an initial heavy fine, followed by a point loss, relegation and a lengthy ban for teams suspected of match fixing a fourth time.