ECA excludes Turkish football club Fenerbahçe from match-fixing decision

DOHA, Qatar - The Associated Press

Hürriyet photo

Europe’s top football clubs have agreed to expel members who have fixed matches, just days after European police agency Europol issued a report showing the problem was widespread.

The 200-member European Club Association, meeting in Qatar, approved the measure that also allows it kick clubs out for doping or racism.

ECA general secretary Michele Centenaro says the clubs felt it was “their duty” to take tougher regulations to demonstrate it is a “responsible organization.”

Centenaro says the new regulation would not apply to ECA member Fenerbahce, which was embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. The Fenerbahce president was jailed for match-fixing but the club was cleared of wrongdoing by the Turkish federation.