Wednesday, 28th August, 2013
Fenerbahce have had further salt rubbed into their collective wounds after last night's playoff heartache as their appeal against a two-year European ban was rejected.
Fenerbahce and Metalist Kharkiv had both appealed their respective UEFA bans with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Turkish club's appeal against a two-year expulsion over match-fixing charges was upheld as was Metalist's ban over similar reasons for the 2013/14 season.
It means Fenerbahce, who would have dropped to the Europa League following last night's second-leg playoff defeat to Arsenal, will be devoid of Europe for two seasons.
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While Fenerbahce's sentence had been temporarily suspended, pending the CAS appeal, to allow them the playoff opportunity, Metalist received no such favours.
The Ukrainian outfit were therefore not permitted to play in the playoffs against Schalke, instead seeing PAOK take their place.
A statement on the CAS website read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has today dismissed the appeals filed by Fenerbahce SK and FC Metalist Kharkiv against the decisions taken by UEFA to exclude them from European club competitions.
"Due to the urgency of both matters, the CAS Panels have issued their decision without the grounds. The full, reasoned awards will be issued as soon as possible."
UEFA have welcomed the decision on both clubs, but will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to determine who will replace Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
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