Fenerbahce will not play in the Champions League this season due to an ongoing match-fixing investigation, the Turkish Football Federation have confirmed.

Fenerbahce have confirmed club president Aziz Yildirim was among a group of people arrested in Turkey today to face questioning over allegations of match-fixing.

Andre Villas-Boas will be given the opportunity to outline his plans for Chelsea when officially unveiled as the Barclays Premier League club’s new manager tomorrow morning.

Chelsea this morning confirmed the appointment of former Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas as their new manager.

Andre Villas-Boas' meteoric rise from backroom scout to one of the most demanding jobs in world football is set to be confirmed after Chelsea moved to install the Portuguese coach as their new manager.

THE worst kept secret in football came out in the open last night as Chelsea confirmed they hope to appoint Andre Villas-Boas as their new manager.

Chelsea hope to appoint Andre Villas-Boas as their new manager, the Barclays Premier League club tonight confirmed.

Andre Villas-Boas looks set to be confirmed as the new Chelsea manager once Porto receive their €15m compensation.

Chelsea could have a new manager in place by the end of the week – with Porto admitting they would be powerless to prevent Andre Villas-Boas from heading to Stamford Bridge should the Barclays Premier League club trigger his €15m release clause.

CHELSEA remain confident a new manager will shortly be in place as Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas looks set to move to Stamford Bridge — but with Porto insisting as yet there has been no official offer to trigger his €15 million release clause.

GUUS HIDDINK’S agent yesterday insisted the Dutchman would not quit as Turkey manager to take over at Chelsea, despite the resignation of the man who appointed him.

Guus Hiddink’s agent today insisted the Dutchman would not quit as Turkey manager to take over at Chelsea, despite the resignation of the man who appointed him.

Guus Hiddink may have moved a step closer to becoming Chelsea manager today after the president of the Turkish Football Federation announced he would not stand for re-election.

Guus Hiddink’s agent claims his client is still “very happy” in his current position as Turkey manager despite claims he is edging closer to a return to Chelsea.

Porto president Pinto da Costa is convinced Andre Villas-Boas would reject any approach from Chelsea – despite the highly-rated coach having a release clause of just €15m.

GUUS HIDDINK yesterday looked set to have the final say over whether he returns to Chelsea as manager this summer.

The agent of Guus Hiddink today refused to rule out the Dutchman returning to frontline club management amid reports he is the number one target to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea boss.

THE lawyer representing Juventus at the appeals trial in Italy’s match-fixing scandal pleaded for leniency yesterday, saying that last week’s decision by a sports tribunal to relegate the club to the second division with a 30-point penalty would have “devastating consequences”.

Turkey are set to take on the most powerful man in world football to fight the severe punishments imposed for the violent clashes after November’s World Cup play-off defeat against Switzerland.

Turkey’s sports minister accused FIFA of leaning too heavily on president Sepp Blatter’s version of events and vowed to challenge the severe punishment doled out after violence marred November’s World Cup play-off against Switzerland.

THE TURKISH FA has expressed their dismay at comments made by FIFA president Sepp Blatter regarding the violent scenes that marred Wednesday night's World Cup play-off against Switzerland in Istanbul.

THE Turkish Football Federation has condemned the treatment of its national side in Saturday’s World Cup playoff against Switzerland, fuelling tensions for the return leg in Istanbul tomorrow night.

GRAEME SOUNESS has conceded Blackburn are missing the influence of Damien Duff but insists overall his squad are stronger than a year ago.

ENGLAND are set to miss out on being one of the top seeds for the Euro 2004 finals – meaning they could be drawn with holders France or hosts Portugal in the group stage.

UEFA have raised their concerns with British sports minister Richard Caborn about England’s remaining European Championship qualifier in Turkey.

WITH one crucial exception, World Cup semi-finalists Turkey are reaping the benefits of relatively untaxing domestic seasons for many of their most important players.