Fenerbahce have been banned from next season’s Champions League and Besiktas from the Europa League over match-fixing allegations, UEFA has announced.
The UEFA control and disciplinary body confirmed Fener would be banned from European for three seasons in total, with the third deferred for a probationary period of five years.
It is the Turkish giants second exclusion from Europe’s top competition after they were banned from the 2011-12 Champions League due to the match-fixing scandal.
A UEFA statement read: ‘The CDB carefully analysed the situation of both Fenerbahce and Besiktas and has pronounced the following sanctions:
‘Besiktas is not eligible to participate in the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League.
‘Fenerbahce is excluded from participating in the next three UEFA club competitions for which it would qualify, including the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League season. The ban for the third season is deferred for a probationary period of five years.’
Fener, who reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season, finished second to Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig, one place above Besiktas.
Five Fener officials and two from Besiktas also had charges heard, but UEFA said that in relation to them ‘the CDB decided that certain additional information will be collected in order to consider in further detail the different position of each of the individuals concerned’.
UEFA confirmed earlier this month that its control and disciplinary body would hear charges following an ‘investigation into alleged match-fixing activities’.
The European governing body also today imposed a suspended one-year ban from European competition on Romanian side Steaua Bucharest, who were accused of a breach of Champions League participation regulations
UEFA said: ‘The CDB also carefully analysed the situation of FC Steaua Bucharest and, taking into account certain mitigating circumstances, the following sanction has been imposed:
‘FC Steaua Bucharest is not eligible to participate in one UEFA club competition for which the club would otherwise qualify. This sanction is deferred for a probationary period of five years.’
Fenerbahce have said they will appeal the decision, with the other two entitled to do so.
Culled from Dailymail.co.uk
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