Caleb Ekuban's Trabzonspor given one-year Uefa ban

Trabzonspor striker Caleb Ekuban

Caleb Ekuban's Trabzonspor have been banned for one-year by Uefa for failing to meet Financial Fair-Play regulations.

The club is likely to miss the next European tournament they qualify for if it is in either the 2020/21 or 2021/22 seasons.

Trabzonspor were penalised for not respecting an agreement made in 2016 which said they were to break even by 2019.

Trabzonspor lead the Turkish Super Lig on head-to-head record ahead of Istanbul Basaksehir, with the top flight set to resume on June 12 following the coronavirus lockdown.

Below is UEFA’s decision on Trabzonspor:

"On 5 July 2019, the UEFA Club Financial Control Body [CFCB] Adjudicatory Chamber determined that Trabzonspor A? [TUR] failed to be break-even compliant as required by a settlement agreement, which it entered into on 20 May 2016 and sanctioned the club with a conditional exclusion from participating in one [1] UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons," UEFA said in a statement.

"The sanction would not take effect if the club fulfilled certain conditions, including meeting a target with respect to its financial results for the 2019 financial year.

"The CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber has now determined that Trabzonspor AS failed to meet the target fixed for the 2019 financial year.

"As a result, the CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber has ordered that the club be excluded from participating in one (1) UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.”

Trabzonspor has also confirmed that the club will appeal the decision from UEFA:

"UEFA concluded with the decision today that our club did not comply with the reconciliation agreement we have signed with them," the club said in a statement.

"Although we respect the decision, we would like to emphasize that we disagree with this decision in our evaluation with club lawyers. We would like to announce that we will object against this decision within 10 days."

Ekuban has been plighted with injuries this season, however, he has managed to score eight goals in the 25 games.