Fenerbahce relegation offer rejected by TFF

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) yesterday rejected an offer from match-fixing scandal-hit club Fenerbahce to be demoted to the country’s second division. “The TFF executive board concluded that there is no need for the federation to step back...

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) yesterday rejected an offer from match-fixing scandal-hit club Fenerbahce to be demoted to the country’s second division.

“The TFF executive board concluded that there is no need for the federation to step back from its decision dated August 15,” the TFF said in a statement, referring to its decision not to relegate Fenerbahce.

Fenerbahce, the Turkish league champions, had said that demotion to the second division would give them a chance to restore the club’s tarnished image.

Fenerbahce were prevented from entering the Champions League over the match-fixing probe, with league runners-up Trabzonspor taking their place instead in Thursday’s draw.

The club’s appeal against the ban was rejected in midweek.

Last month, some 30 people were charged and jailed pending trial in a probe into alleged match-fixing and bribery in Turkey’s first and second divisions last season.

Among them is the president of Fenerbahce, Aziz Yildirim, and two senior officials of first division Besiktas.

The Turkish sporting press estimated the potential loss to Fenerbahce from missing out on a Champions League place at €25 million.

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