Romania has been expelled from the Eurovision Song Contest.

The country was barred from the annual show after public service broadcaster Televiziunea Romana failed to pay back debts of 16 million Swiss francs (£11.6 million).

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had asked that Televiziunea Romana pay back the money by Wednesday (April 20).

The EBU produces the contest, which has been running since 1956.

Ovidiu Anton (pictured above) was due to represent the country with the song 'Moment of Silence' at this year's contest in Stockholm on May 12.

Romania have never won the contest before, but they came third in 2005 and 2010.

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Watch Romania take part in Eurovision below: