2011/2012 UEFA Champions League

[Dan]

Fenerbahce booted out.

[Starvinho]

Who replaces them then, another Turkish team?

[Lineker]

What for?

[Starvinho]

1732 FOOTBALL: Turkish champions Fenerbahce are removed from the Champions League because of an ongoing match-fixing investigation . Turkey's Football Federation says it has withdrawn Fenerbahce after emergency meetings on Wednesday.

[Lineker]

Cue riots.

[Starvinho]

Turkey's Football Federation has withdrawn national champions Fenerbahce from the Champions League because of an ongoing match-fixing investigation.

On Thursday the Turkish side were due to join 32 elite European clubs in the draw for the Champions League group stage being held in Monaco at 1645 BST.

It is unclear how Uefa will replace Fenerbahce, who are suspected of fixing matches to win the Turkish title.

Runners-up Trabzonspor have also been implicated in the match-fixing probe.

They were eliminated in the the Champions League qualifying rounds and are currently in a two-legged play-off to qualify for the group stage of the Europa League.

The decision was taken after the Turkish Football Federation held an extraordinary board meeting on Wednesday attended by Uefa's legal counsel for integrity, Pierre Cornu.

The Turkish match-fixing probe threatened to play havoc with Uefa's marquee club competition, with Fenerbahce having been scheduled to play six group matches from September to December.

Uefa had warned it would kick out any team proved to be involved in match-fixing and wipe its results from the record.

Be interesting to see who replaces them, doesn't look like it'll be another Turkish team. They'll have to have a battle royal of all the play-off losers to sort it out!

[The Quasi Juice]

Give it to Twente, gwan.

[DavidMarrio]

I've heard rumours of it being Liverpool (Supposedly) so it's probably B.S

If Arsenal win, Liverpool are in the Europa League cause 5 teams from the same nation can't be in the CL.

If Arsenal lose tonight there will be an English slot available in the CL and Liverpool have the highest co-efficient meaning they'd get it.

Supposedly when a team is expelled UEFA may give the place to the team with the highest co-efficient not currently in Europe. Basically it's just people grasping at straws like.

[stokeriño]

If I were UEFA I'd wait for the CL playoff ties to finish and provide the loser with the best co-efficient a free pass into the Group Stage. Since that also leaves an empty space for the Europa League I'd do the same with one of their playoff losers.

[Starvinho]

1843 FOOTBALL: Arsenal team to face Udinese in Champions League second-leg qualifier - Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Djourou, Jenkinson, Song, Frimpong, Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho, Van Persie.

Not a bad side on paper that. Even though I'd laugh if Arsenal get knocked out tonight I am hoping they get through, I'd rather an extra English side through than anything else really.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Starvinho

[The Quasi Juice]

If Arsenal get knocked out they might win a trophy for once.

[HailtotheYo]

Trabzonspor getting the spot ...

[DavidMarrio]

UEFA using common sense...WHAT?!?!

[IAceI]

So is that Athletic Club straight through to the Europa League I suppose? Just as well as a 0-0 in Bilbao meant a tough fixture to Turkey was due tomorrow.

[Starvinho]

1-0 Udinese

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

What a beautiful goal that was, very nice.

Cracking game this is.

[stokeriño]

Damn cheeky header. Glad I'm watching this.

[therockbox]

Udinese's announcer is brilliant.

[HailtotheYo]

Let the implosion begin

[MDK]

That stadium announcer went nuts shouting out his name.