Fenerbahçe replaced in UEFA Champions League
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Article summary
The UEFA Emergency Panel has decided to replace Fenerbahçe SK with Trabzonspor AŞ after the Turkish FA withdrew Fenerbahçe from the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League.
Article body
The UEFA Emergency Panel, composed of the UEFA President and four members of the UEFA Executive Committee, met today following the decision of the Turkish Football Federation to withdraw Fenerbahçe SK from the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League due to the fact that the club has been involved in match-fixing.
The UEFA Emergency Panel decided to replace Fenerbahçe SK with Trabzonspor AŞ, runners-up in the 2010/11 Turkish league, in tomorrow's draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The UEFA Emergency Panel also decided that Trabzonspor AŞ would be replaced in the UEFA Europa League by its opponent in the play-off, Athletic Club. The UEFA Europa League play-off second-leg match between Trabzonspor AŞ and Athletic Club, scheduled for Thursday 25 August, is cancelled.
Commenting on the UEFA Emergency Panel decision, UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said: "The panel considered that the Turkish Football Federation took the right decision to protect the game, fully in line with our zero-tolerance policy against match-fixing.
"The Turkish Football Federation has shown with this decision that it takes its full responsibility in the fight against corruption."
