Besiktas excluded from Europa League
7 July 2012 09:01
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected Besiktas' appeal against their ban from the UEFA Europa League.
It was announced in May the Istanbul club would be excluded from the next two UEFA competitions they qualified for due to financial misdemeanours, along with Gaziantepspor and Bursaspor.
Upon appeal, Bursaspor were reinstated to the Europa League, but Besiktas' bid to regain their place in the tournament has been thrown out after a hearing in Lausanne on July 5.
"Besiktas are excluded from the next two UEFA club competitions for which it qualifies in the next five seasons," an official CAS statement confirmed.
"The exclusion for the second competition is suspended for a probationary period of five years. Besiktas are fined 200,000 euros, of which 100,000 euros is suspended for a probationary period of five years."
Besiktas had finished fourth in the Turkish Super Lig, which would have granted them a place in the qualifying rounds for the Europa League.
Eskisehirspor take Besiktas' place in the 2012/13 Europa League, and will face Scottish Premier League club St Johnstone in the second qualifying round.
