No reason to ban Turkish clubs from Europe, say UEFA

- BERNE, July 12 (Reuters) - UEFA has no reason on current
evidence to ban any of the Turkish clubs involved in
match-fixing investigations from European competition at this
stage, European soccer's governing body said on Tuesday.     

The announcement came a day after Turkish police detained 22
people, including the chairman of Trabzonspor, in a widening
match-fixing investigation which has already put 26 people in
jail pending trial.     

"UEFA has full confidence in the Turkish Football Federation
(TFF) to submit to UEFA the names of the clubs to be entered
based purely on sporting merit, and to take the necessary strong
action in this case with the information at its disposal," said
UEFA in a statement.     

"Given the information received so far by UEFA there is
nothing according to the UEFA statutes or regulations that leads
UEFA to refuse entry to any of the clubs currently involved in
the investigations in Turkey."     

"In addition, every club participating in UEFA club
competitions has provided UEFA with a written guarantee that
they have not been involved in match-fixing activities.     

"UEFA requests the Turkish state authorities to pass on any
relevant information regarding the ongoing investigations to the
TFF as soon as possible, in order that sports justice can be
carried out in the most judicious manner."     

A major nationwide investigation has plunged preparations
for the new Turkish season into chaos less than a month before
kick-off and could result in champions Fenerbahce being stripped
of their title.     

The detention of Trabzonspor's Sadri Sener in Istanbul on
Monday came just hours after the chairman of Fenerbahce, Aziz
Yildirim, was remanded in custody on charges of match-fixing and
forming a criminal organisation.     

Other Fenerbahce board members are also among the 26 people
who have been remanded in custody after police raids a week ago,
prompted by alleged evidence of result manipulation in 19
matches.     

Among these matches was Fenerbahce's 4-3 victory over
Sivasspor which clinched the title for them on the final day of
the season, according to media reports.     

UEFA said that it could always backtrack if wrongdoing was
proved at a later stage.     

"A decision to exclude a club from a competition, or from
any future European competitions for a number of years, can be
made at any time if it transpires that the club in question
obtained qualification via manipulated or fixed matches," said
UEFA.     

"There is no doubt this is a complex case which is still
evolving, but the matches under suspicion clearly fall within
the sporting jurisdiction of the TFF and the legal jurisdiction
of the Turkish judicial system.     

"UEFA therefore cannot comment on any potential outcomes." 

Fenerbahce have qualified directly for the Champions League
group stage as champions while second-placed Trabzonspor will go
into the third qualifying round.     

The draw for the third qualifying round will be made on
Friday.