Turan Tovuz banned from Conference League after UEFA match-fixing

Turan Tovuz have been ruled ineligible to compete in next season’s UEFA Conference League after European football’s governing body, UEFA, announced on Wednesday that the club was implicated in activities intended to affect match results.

The UEFA Appeals Body chair confirmed that Turan Tovuz did not satisfy the admission requirements, citing evidence of direct and/or indirect involvement in conduct aimed at arranging or influencing the outcome of matches at domestic or international level.

The decision follows Turan Tovuz’s third-place finish in the Azerbaijani Premier League, a position that would ordinarily have secured qualification for the Conference League qualifying rounds.

The club said the decision was based on a 2019 disciplinary case where seven of the club's players were banned from all football-related activities for match-fixing by the country's soccer governing body (AFFA).

"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.

"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."

The club said it would take "all legal steps" and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to change UEFA's decision and ensure their participation in the Conference League.

"There are no changes in our preparation plans for the Conference League," the club added.

"This month, the team members will gather and go to Turkey for a training camp."