UEFA approves Beşiktaş ban, reduces Fenerbahçe sentence

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Fener players during training sessions. DHA Photo

European football’s governing body, UEFA, has approved a one-year ban from continental competition on Beşiktaş while reducing Fenerbahçe’s suspension from 2+1 years to two years on rigging accusations.

Beşiktaş will not be permitted to compete on a continental level during the 2013-14 season, while Fener will be prevented from playing during the next two seasons, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Last month both teams were handed suspensions from European competitions for their alleged involvement in the manipulation of Turkish football matches. The teams immediately appealed the decision, with high-ranking representatives offering testimonies to the governing body. 

Fenerbahçe was charged after some of its board members allegedly attempted to manipulate games in the 2010-2011 Super League, while Beşiktaş was charged for its officials’ alleged attempts to fix the 2011 Turkish Cup final, which the Black Eagles won on penalties over Istanbul BB. 

The two clubs’ officials were handed prison sentences by an Istanbul court in the Turkish judicial process, but the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) decided not to punish the teams, saying that even though there were efforts to manipulate some games, they had not been reflected on the pitch. 

UEFA then opened its own investigation. Beşiktaş has also appealed against its confirmed one-year ban and will make its defense today.