http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...league?cc=4716
Trabzonspor replace Fenerbahce
August 24, 2011
UEFA has confirmed Trabzonspor will replace Fenerbahce in the Champions League group stage.
On Wednesday afternoon, it emerged via a statement on the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) website tat UEFA wrote 2 the federation on Tuesday 2 demand Fenerbahce's withdrawal, threatening wider disciplinary action against the TFF should they fail 2 do so.
The letter was 4warded 2 Fenerbahce, who declined 2 withdraw.
''In the face of tis development, on August 24 an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors was held 2 discuss the threat of the Turkish Football Federation being exposed 2 severe disciplinary sanctions if Fenerbahce took part in the UEFA Champions League tis season, & it was decided 2 bar them fr participating,'' the statement said.
The UEFA Emergency Panel has now chosen 2 replace the Turkish champions, whose chairman Aziz Yildirim has been arrested following allegations of manipulation in 19 matches along with 30 others, with their division counterparts Trabzonspor.
UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said: "The panel considered tat the Turkish Football Federation took the right decision 2 protect the game, fully in line with our 0-tolerance policy against match-fixing.
"The Turkish Football Federation has shown with tis decision tat it takes its full responsibility in the fight against corruption."
A statement fr UEFA further clarified: "The UEFA Emergency Panel also decided tat Trabzonspor AS would be replaced in the UEFA Europa League by its opponent in the play-off, Athletic Club Bilbao.
"The UEFA Europa League play-off 2nd-leg match betw Trabzonspor AS & Athletic Club Bilbao scheduled 4 Thursday 25 August is cancelled."
The Turkish league's start is already subject 2 a delay - until September 9 - until the Federation completes its investigation. Runner-up Trabzonspor (also implicated in the match-fixing probe) had been previously eliminated in the Champions League qualifying rounds.