Turan Tovuz Is Banned From UEFA Conference League Over Match Fixing Allegations

Turan Tovuz's place in next season's UEFA club competitions has been thrown into doubt after UEFA ruled the Azerbaijani side ineligible to participate in the Conference League.

The decision means Turan Tovuz is banned from UEFA Conference League despite securing a third-place finish in the Azerbaijani Premier League, a result that would normally have earned the club a spot in the qualifying rounds of the competition.

UEFA Cites Integrity Regulations

In a ruling announced on Wednesday, UEFA's Appeals Body determined that the club failed to meet admission criteria linked to competition integrity. According to the governing body, evidence reviewed during the process pointed to direct or indirect involvement in actions intended to influence match outcomes.

As a result, Turan Tovuz is made ineligible due to match-fixing concerns under UEFA's regulations, preventing the club from taking part in the 2026-27 Conference League campaign.

Club Plans Legal Challenge

Turan Tovuz rejected the outcome and indicated it would challenge the ruling through legal channels. The club said it intends to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an effort to overturn the decision.

The club argued that its qualification was earned on sporting merit after finishing third in the domestic standings.

"In the 2025-26 season, we finished the season in third place, following all sporting principles, and earned the right to play in the Conference League, which we are entitled to," the club said in a statement.

Case Linked to Previous Disciplinary Action

According to the club, UEFA's assessment was connected to disciplinary measures dating back to the 2019-20 campaign. During that season, seven players associated with the team were sanctioned by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) over match-fixing offences.

"The UEFA Disciplinary Committee conducted an investigation into whether our club met the criteria.

"It should be noted that the AFFA Disciplinary Committee banned seven players of our team, who played in the I Division in the 2019-20 season, from all football-related activities."

Despite the setback, Turan Tovuz said preparations for the new season would continue as planned, including a scheduled training camp in Turkey later this month.