UEFA Bars Turan Tovuz From Conference League Over Match‑influence Findings

The appeals body said prior findings that players tried to influence match results made the club ineligible and Turan Tovuz has lodged an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Overview

UEFA's Appeals Body ruled the Azerbaijani club does not meet admission criteria for next season's Conference League because of involvement in activities aimed at influencing match outcomes.
The decision rests in part on a 2019 disciplinary case in which Azerbaijan's football federation banned seven Turan Tovuz players from all football activities for match‑fixing.
Turan Tovuz finished third in the Azerbaijan top flight in 2025–26, a placing that would normally have secured entry to Conference League qualifying rounds.
The club said it will pursue all legal steps and has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport while maintaining its planned preparations, including a training camp in Turkey.
The ruling creates short‑term uncertainty over qualification, match schedules and club revenue and it could set a precedent for how UEFA treats historical national‑level sanctions when assessing current eligibility.