UEFA has officially barred the Azerbaijani football club Turan Tovuz from participating in European club competitions.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the decision stems from a 2019 disciplinary case involving seven players from the club who were sanctioned for match-fixing activities.
In an official statement, the club addressed the situation: “Having adhered to all sporting principles during the 2025/2026 season, we finished in third place and earned the right to compete in the Conference League. However, the UEFA Disciplinary Committee conducted a review regarding our eligibility. Citing a decision by the AFFA Disciplinary Committee dated December 13, 2019, UEFA disqualified our club from participating in UEFA sporting competitions for the 2026/2027 season on June 2, 2026.”
The club emphasized that the 2019 ruling by the AFFA Disciplinary Committee resulted in lifetime bans for seven players who were part of the team competing in the First Division at that time. Turan Tovuz management stated that they are initiating all necessary legal procedures, including an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), to overturn the decision and secure their participation in the Conference League.
Despite the setback, the club confirmed that their preparations for the upcoming season remain unchanged. The team is scheduled to assemble this month and will proceed with their planned training camp in Turkey.
The UEFA Conference League, established in 2021, serves as the third tier of European club football, providing clubs from smaller or developing leagues—such as those in Azerbaijan—the opportunity to compete on an international stage. Disciplinary actions regarding match-fixing are taken with extreme severity by UEFA to maintain the integrity of the sport across the continent.
