Fenerbahce banned from Europe

Fenerbahce logo

Fenerbahce will not play in the Champions League this season because of an ongoing investigation, the Turkish Football Federation has confirmed.

The declaration comes on the eve of Champions League group stage draw in Monaco.

Turkish Football Federation logo

According to a declaration on the TFF website, UEFA wrote to the federation to demand Fenerbahce's withdrawal, threatening wider disciplinary act against the TFF should they fail to do so.

The letter was sent on to Fenerbahce, who declined to withdraw.

"In the face of this development, on August 24 an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors was held to talk about the threat of the Turkish Football Federation being exposed to severe disciplinary endorsements if Fenerbahce took part in the UEFA Champions League this season, and it was decided to bar them from participating," the announcement said.

Fenerbahce were crown league champions last term, pipping Trabzonspor to the Super Lig title with a dramatic 4-3 win at Sivasspor on the final day.

The final standings stay official, but Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim is one of more than 30 people confined custody pending trial on the matter.

UEFA Champions League logo

UEFA are expected to make an proclamation later this evening.

A head of the expected UEFA announcement, there was confusion over who would take Fenerbahce's spot in the contest.

The left second legs of the play-offs were because of take place tonight, and there was speculation that one of the beaten teams from this round would be reinstated.

If UEFA were to go by coefficients, Arsenal would be sure a place in the group stage, in spite of of the outcome of their tie against Udinese.

There was also the chance the TFF could be invite to enter another team in Fenerbahce's place.