Fenerbahçe Face Second Champions League Expulsion Over Match-Fixing

Fenerbahçe Face Second Champions League Expulsion
Open Image Modal
AEL Limassol's fans cheer for their team before the start of the UEFA Europa League group C football match between AEL Limassol and Fenerbahce at GSP Stadium in the Cypriot capital Nicosia on October 25, 2012. AFP PHOTO / BEHROUZ MEHRI (Photo credit should read BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)
Getty

Fenerbahçe could face expulsion from the Champions League again after Uefa announced the club and five officials will have match-fixing charges heard by its disciplinary body later this month.

The five are understood to include club president Aziz Yildirim, who was jailed last July for six years for match-fixing.

Fenerbahçe were banned from the 2011-12 Champions League due to the match-fixing scandal and now face the possibility of another exclusion from the competition.

Uefa has also today charged Beşiktaş, another Turkish club, in relation to match-fixing.

Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened against Steaua Bucharest for breach of Champions League participation regulations. This follows the Romanian club's owner Gigi Becali being jailed for three years for offering a £1.5 million cash bribe to rival players to a throw a match.

Uefa said in a statement: "Following the investigation into alleged match-fixing activities involving Fenerbahçe, the UEFA disciplinary inspector has now submitted his findings to the control and disciplinary body, in the context of disciplinary proceedings against this club and five club officials.

"This case will be heard by the UEFA control and disciplinary body on Saturday June 22.

"Proceedings have also been opened against Besiktas and two club officials in relation to match-fixing activities which are alleged to have taken place during the 2011 Turkish Cup final.

"Proceedings have also been opened against Steaua Bucharest on the basis of... the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League regulations, relating to the admission criteria for participation in UEFA competitions."

The decisions in the cases will be announced in the week starting June 24.