Champions League: Four Clubs Banned By UEFA

For most football players and teams, playing in the UEFA Champions League is their ultimate goal. It is the most prestigious club competition in the world, second only to the FIFA World Cup in terms of global appeal, and it symbolises the height of European football success.

However, for a select few clubs, that dream has been derailed—not due to performance on the pitch, but because of disciplinary sanctions. Over the years, four clubs have been banned from participating in the Champions League, a punishment that not only deprives them of glory but can also have long-lasting financial and sporting consequences.

Here’s a closer look at the clubs that were barred from Europe’s grandest stage:

1. Beşiktaş (Turkey) – One-Year Ban (2013)

One of Turkey’s most prominent football institutions, Beşiktaş earned a spot in the 2013 Champions League group stage after defeating Norway’s Tromsø in the qualifiers. However, the club was disqualified shortly after due to allegations of domestic match-fixing.

Beşiktaş appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the appeal was rejected. Tromsø, the team they had eliminated, was reinstated in their place.

Key Stat: No Turkish club has ever won the UEFA Champions League. Turkey’s greatest European success remains Galatasaray’s 2000 UEFA Cup triumph.

2. Fenerbahçe (Turkey) – Two-Year Ban (2013)

Another Istanbul powerhouse, Fenerbahçe was also caught up in the same match-fixing scandal that implicated Beşiktaş. UEFA imposed a two-year ban from European competitions in 2013.

Despite initially challenging the decision, Fenerbahçe’s appeal was unsuccessful. The punishment significantly impacted their ambitions in Europe and marked a troubling period for Turkish football.

3. Juventus (Italy) – One-Year Ban (2023/24 Season)

Though Juventus were central figures in the 2006 Calciopoli scandal, their exclusion from UEFA competitions in the 2023/24 season stemmed from a different issue: violations of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

As one of Europe’s most decorated clubs—with Champions League titles in 1985 and 1996—the ban was a major blow. It also served as a clear warning from UEFA about the consequences of financial mismanagement.

4. FK Pobeda (North Macedonia) – Eight-Year Ban (2009–2017)

The most obscure name on this list, FK Pobeda of North Macedonia, received the longest Champions League-related ban in history. In 2009, UEFA imposed an eight-year suspension after uncovering match-fixing in a 2004 qualifier against Armenia’s FC Pyunik.

The investigation revealed irregular betting patterns linked to the match. UEFA not only banned the club but also issued lifetime bans to club president Aleksandar Zabrcanec and player Nikolce Zdraveski from all football-related activities. Pobeda’s suspension was lifted in 2017.

While the Champions League is a stage for footballing greatness, these cases show how seriously UEFA treats integrity and fair play—on and off the pitch. For these clubs, the cost of scandal was measured not just in trophies lost but in trust and reputation.