Clubs banned from European competition over match-fixing may have their suspension deferred for a season in the future to avoid the confusion which has marked this year’s Champions League qualifying competition.

UEFA president Michel Platini said uncertainty surrounding Fenerbahce and Metalist Kharkiv’s presence in the competition over the last month, and the knock-on effects for other teams, had not been good for UEFA’s credibility.

“We could suspend a team for the following year instead of keeping them from starting in the current season,” Platini told a news conference.

“It is a political question. I have my views, (UEFA secretary general) Gianni Infantino has his view and the disciplinary commission people have their dissenting views.

“It is bothersome... and this is bad for UEFA’s image as well,” he added, referring to the uncertainty over whether some teams would be able to continue in the competition or not.

“The legal department did not spend much time on the beach this summer, rather more in the courtroom.

“Clubs were playing, not playing, then playing again.”

Fenerbahce were kicked out of the Champions League in June, shortly before the qualifying competition started, over a domestic match-fixing case two years ago.

However, they appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who provisionally reinstated them and they were readmitted at the last minute.

They then beat Austrian club Salzburg in the third qualifying round and faced Arsenal over two legs in a play-off with a final decision still hanging over them.

In the end, Fenerbahce lost the Arsenal tie and their appeal, which meant they missed out on the Europa League for which they had qualified, allowing APOEL Nicosia to replace them in yesterday’s draw.

Final ruling

Salzburg also lodged a protest with UEFA, which was rejected, before they appealed to CAS which has yet to issue its final ruling.

Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv also went to CAS after being banned for match-fixing although, unlike Fenerbahce, they failed to gain provisional reinstatement and eventually lost their appeal.

Their absence again forced UEFA to make a last-minute switch, replacing them with Greek side PAOK Salonika as Schalke 04’s opponents in the Champions League play-offs.

“It was a tough summer, a bit complicated between disciplinary committee appeal procedures, CAS and all sorts of things,” Platini said.

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