Azerbaijani football club PFK Turan Tovuz has been banned from next season's UEFA Conference League for involvement in match-fixing, European football's governing body announced on Wednesday.
UEFA's Appeals Body ruled that the club failed to meet admission criteria due to being directly or indirectly involved in arranging or influencing match outcomes at national or international level. The ban comes despite Turan Tovuz finishing third in Azerbaijan's top flight, which would normally secure a Conference League qualifying spot.
The club said the ban stems from a 2019 disciplinary case in which seven players were banned from all football-related activities for match-fixing by the Azerbaijani Football Association (AFFA). Turan Tovuz stated it finished third following all sporting principles and is entitled to compete in the Conference League.
The club plans to appeal UEFA's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and will continue preparations, including a training camp in Turkey this month. Next season's Conference League will be the sixth edition of the tournament, first played in 2021-22.
