Out of favour Super Eagles’ captain, Joseph Yobo, has been slammed with a two-year ban by the European Football Association, The Eagle Online can report.
Yobo, who was not listed by the Super Eagles’ handler, Stephen Keshi, for the ongoing Confederations Cup, will also miss the European action for two seasons, following his Fenerbahce’s involvement in match fixing scandal.
The European football governing body confirmed that Fenerbahce has been banned from competing in European competition for two seasons and Besiktas for a season.
Both Istanbul giants were embroiled in a match-fixing scandal at the tail-end of the 2010-11 campaign, which saw Aykut Kocaman’s side’s miraculous run to the Super Lig title subject to suspicion.
Besiktas, meanwhile, won the Turkish cup that year on penalties against Istanbul BB, but they soon gave back the trophy when the investigation was announced.
A statement released on Uefa’s official website read: “The Uefa Control and Disciplinary Body (CDB) today announced its decisions following the disciplinary proceedings relating to Fenerbahce SK (Turkey), Besiktas JK (Turkey), and FC Steaua Bucuresti (Romania).
“The CDB carefully analysed the situation of both Fenerbahçe SK and Beşiktaş JK and has pronounced the following sanctions: Besiktas JK is not eligible to participate in the 2013/14 Uefa Europa League.
“Fenerbahce SK is excluded from participating in the next three Uefa club competitions for which it would qualify, including the 2013/14 Uefa Champions League season. The ban for the third season is deferred for a probationary period of five years.”
Steaua Bucharest have also been handed a one-year suspension from competing in Uefa competitions, though this has been deferred for five years.
Fener had been due to compete in the Champions League this term after finishing second in the league, with Besiktas coming third.
However, Uefa has exercised its right to ban Fenerbahce for two years, with a further campaign suspended, while Besiktas are to miss one year of continental football.
The Black Eagles also missed the Europa League last term after failing to meet financial requirements.
Trending
- Veteran journalist Ray Ekpu loses wife
- Another Wike loyalist rejects Fubara’s redeployment, resigns as finance commissioner
- Akpabio tasks judiciary on sustainable reforms.
- Ex- judge’s daughter seeks share of late father’s property
- Gusau to committees: Formulate policies, programmes that will help Nigeria’s football grow
- CSOs to EFCC: Declaring Yahaya Bello wanted, subjecting him to media trials without formal invitation reprehensible
- Yahaya Bello: Bwala faults EFCC’s media trial, disregard for rule of law
- CSO threatens to sue NBC over alleged offensive contents on Netflix, tiktok, others