Trabzonspor draws Benfica in Europe
Source: Agencies |
July 16, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DECLARING itself "100 percent" innocent in a widespread Turkish match-fixing scandal, Trabzonspor's tough luck in the Champions League continued yesterday when it drew Portuguese club Benfica in the third qualifying round.
In other pairings, Dynamo Kiev was drawn to face Rubin Kazan and FC Twente was paired with Romanian club Vaslui. Twente is preparing to play the opening home leg at neutral Arnhem in the Netherlands on July 26-27 just three weeks after construction works collapsed at its stadium, killing two people.
Danish champion FC Copenhagen, which reached the last-16 knockout round last season, was drawn at home first against Shamrock Rovers of Ireland or Estonia's Flora Tallinn, whose second qualifying round tie will be completed next week.
Trabzonspor finished runner-up in the Turkish league last season, and could yet be awarded the title if allegations are proven that champion Fenerbahce's officials cheated their way to the trophy.
Fenerbahce edged Trabzonspor on goal difference in May after winning 16 of its last 17 matches.
However, the probe isn't being resolved in time to award Trabzonspor direct entry - instead of Fenerbahce - to the lucrative 32-team group stage of the Champions League.
Champions League organizer UEFA and Turkey's football federation this week cleared both clubs to enter the competition because the investigation is ongoing.
In other pairings, Dynamo Kiev was drawn to face Rubin Kazan and FC Twente was paired with Romanian club Vaslui. Twente is preparing to play the opening home leg at neutral Arnhem in the Netherlands on July 26-27 just three weeks after construction works collapsed at its stadium, killing two people.
Danish champion FC Copenhagen, which reached the last-16 knockout round last season, was drawn at home first against Shamrock Rovers of Ireland or Estonia's Flora Tallinn, whose second qualifying round tie will be completed next week.
Trabzonspor finished runner-up in the Turkish league last season, and could yet be awarded the title if allegations are proven that champion Fenerbahce's officials cheated their way to the trophy.
Fenerbahce edged Trabzonspor on goal difference in May after winning 16 of its last 17 matches.
However, the probe isn't being resolved in time to award Trabzonspor direct entry - instead of Fenerbahce - to the lucrative 32-team group stage of the Champions League.
Champions League organizer UEFA and Turkey's football federation this week cleared both clubs to enter the competition because the investigation is ongoing.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
