Eskişehirspor to replace Beşiktaş in Euro League

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Eskişehirspor replaces fourth-place Beşiktaş to play in the Europa League after finishing the Spor Toto Super League on sixth spot. DHA photo

Eskişehirspor will replace Beşiktaş in the Europa League, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected an appeal from the latter on July 6.

CAS rejected Beşiktaş’s appeal to overturn a decision by European football’s governing body, the UEFA, banning them from playing in the Europa League this season due to financial irregularities.

Eskişehirspor will play St. Johnstone, from Scotland, in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. The games will be played on July 19 and 26.

Beşiktaş, along with Bursaspor and Gaziantepspor, was excluded in May from playing in European competitions due to financial misdemeanors. Last month, however, Bursaspor’s ban was overturned and the club was cleared to enter the Europa League qualifiers.

Beşiktaş immediately appealed the UEFA ban, and the hearing was held on July 5. The exclusion of Beşiktaş, which finished last season’s Spor Toto Super League in fourth place, opened the road for sixth-place Eskişehirspor.

Beşiktaş’s lawyer Emin Özkurt had said the club was excluded for “delays in payments.” Beşiktaş was hoping it might be forgiven with a new administration.

Beşiktaş faced several cases regarding payments during former Chairman Yıldırım Demirören’s time at the club’s helm.

“[New Chairman] Fikret Orman is taking a realistic approach and is decidedly taking on the issue,” Özkurt said. “I hope that they will appreciate this approach.” Eskişehirspor will take Beşiktaş’s spot if the Black Eagles are not allowed into the Europa League.