The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday rejected Fenerbahce's appeal against the Turkish Football Federation's decision to ban them from this season's Champions League following a match-fixing probe.
"The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed an urgent request for provisional measures filed by Fenerbahce SK following a decision of the Turkish Football Federation to withdraw the club from the UEFA Champions League," read a statement on the CAS website.
The Turkish Federation (TFF) decided last month to ban Fenerbahce from Europe after being warned by UEFA that either Fenerbahce themselves should withdraw or the TFF should ban the club to prevent UEFA starting its own disciplinary investigation.
Last season's Turkish champions have been replaced in the Champions League by the 2010-11 Super Lig runners-up Trabzonspor.
The Black Sea club were drawn in Group B along with Lille, CSKA Moscow and Inter Milan and begin their campaign away to the Italians on Wednesday.
Source: AFP
