4 Clubs Banned From UEFA Champions League Over Scandals, Misconduct
The UEFA Champions League, regarded as the most prestigious club competition in Europe, has seen its fair share of drama—not just on the pitch, but off it too.
While most clubs dream of gracing the tournament, a few have had that dream shattered by disciplinary sanctions, not poor performance.
Here are four clubs that were banned from the Champions League:
1. Beşiktaş (Turkey) – One-Year Ban
In 2013, Turkish giants Beşiktaş were disqualified from the Champions League despite progressing through the qualifying rounds by defeating Tromsø of Norway.
UEFA issued the ban over allegations of match-fixing in domestic competitions.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the decision, and Tromsø were reinstated in the tournament.
Key Stat: No Turkish team has ever won the UEFA Champions League. Galatasaray’s UEFA Cup win in 2000 remains the country’s biggest continental success.
2. Fenerbahçe (Turkey) – Two-Year Ban
Also in 2013, Istanbul-based Fenerbahçe were handed a two-year ban by UEFA for their involvement in the same match-fixing scandal as Beşiktaş.
Although the club filed an appeal, it was unsuccessful.
The ban dealt a major blow to their European ambitions and cast a shadow over Turkish football.
3. Juventus (Italy) – One-Year Ban (2023/24 Season)
Juventus, a club with a rich European pedigree, was barred from all UEFA competitions in the 2023/24 season—not for match-fixing, but for violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
The decision came years after their involvement in the Calciopoli scandal, with this more recent punishment centred on financial misconduct.
Juventus had previously won the Champions League in 1985 and 1996.
4. FK Pobeda (North Macedonia) – Eight-Year Ban
In 2009, UEFA imposed a record eight-year ban on FK Pobeda after finding the club guilty of match manipulation during a 2004 Champions League qualifier against FC Pyunik of Armenia.
The case was supported by suspicious betting patterns.
UEFA also issued lifetime bans to the club’s president Aleksandar Zabrcanec and player Nikolce Zdraveski.
The club’s suspension was lifted in 2017.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
