Trabzonspor Banned From Appearing In European Competitions

Tranzonspor Training Session (Twitter @Trabzonspor_)

JAKARTA - The leader of the Turkish Super League, Trabzonspor, was given a ban from playing in European competitions for violating Financial Fair Play regulations.

UEFA said in a statement on Wednesday, June 3, the club failed to meet the terms of a 2016 financial settlement agreement which required them to break even.

UEFA's Club Financial Control Agency (CFCB) confirmed the ban would apply if the club qualifies for the Champions League or Europa League in the next two seasons.

"The CFCB has decided that Trabzonspor failed to meet its 2019 fiscal year target," read a statement on UEFA's official website.

"Thus, the CFCB requests that the club be banned from appearing in a UEFA competition if it qualifies for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons," the statement continued.

This season, Trabzonspor took part in the qualifying phase of the Europa League but were eliminated in the third round at the hands of Czech Republic club Sparta Praha.

The team continues preparations with today's morning training session. # Trabzonspor 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/muxX5VrLIH

- Trabzonspor_en (@Trabzonspor_EN_) June 2, 2020

In domestic competition, Trabzonspor currently leads the Super League standings armed with a head to head advantage over Istanbul Basaksehir who both have 53 points.

Thus, if at the end of the season Trabzonspor wins the Turkish Super League, one ticket for the 2020/21 Champions League group phase will be transferred to the second-placed team.