UEFA on Tuesday banned Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Besiktas from European competition next season due to a domestic game-fixing scandal, while handing Romania’s Steaua Bucharest a deferredban that will last five years.
Fener was handed a three-year ban, with the third year deferred for a probationary period of five years, after being charged with fixing games during the2010/2011 season by the Turkish soccer federation. That was the season in which the Istanbul club clinched the league title on the last day of the campaign with a 4-3 win over Sivasspor. That matchwas one of about 12 that are being investigated by the TFF.
Besiktas, meanwhile, faces a lighter sanction of one-year after game-fixing charges were brought against the club for its TurkishCup final win on penalties against Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor in 2011/2012. Besiktas had qualified for the Europa League after finishing third in the Turkish league last season.
Bothclubs plan to appeal the decision.