Alexandru Radulescu was yesterday sentence to 23 years for murder.

Radulescu is former chairman of Romania's Association of Professional and Amateur Football Players.

He was convicted for killing theology student Constantin Radulescu (29), no relation, at his property last year.

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The Damboviat County court also ordered the former soccer boss to pay a 350, 000 lei (about US$160 000) to the victim's family.

Alexandru Radulescu's lawyer Suzana Stan said her client would appeal the sentence on the grounds that it is too severe.

The convicted killer claims that he accidentally shot the deceased as he was trying to flee his property in his car.

Alexandru Radulescu told the court that the victim had trespassed when he found him swimming in a lake on his property.

But the state established that the former soccer union chief was not authorised to possess the weapon. It was also against the law to use the rifle in a public area.