Hearts in Europa Conference League boost as Istanbul Basaksehir boss faces Tynecastle banishment

UEFA have banned Emre Belozoglu from carrying out his duties as Istanbul Basaksehir boss ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League clash with Hearts at Tynecastle.

It is understood the European suspension has been dished out due to the former Newcastle United player not having a coaching Pro Licence. The governing body’s Control, Ethic and Disciplinary committee found the 41-year-old guilty of ‘shadow coaching’ during Basaksehir’s second qualifying round first leg draw with Maccabi Netanya in July.

That breach is in conjunction with Articles 47, 53.01 and 53.02 of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations, which concern coaching licences. It is not yet clear if Belozoglu will be able to be in the dressing room and in the technical area for the opening Group A match in Gorgie. Belozoglu, who was Fenerbahce’s sporting director and interim manager before becoming Basaksehir boss last October, is now said to have started working towards gaining the relevant qualifications.

He said: “It wasn’t easy for me. I wanted to be a coach until three, four years before I quit football and I worked for it. With the success of young coaches, the subject of Pro License has become very controversial.

“This process made us tired, too. We are flesh and blood, but we did our job well by staying silent against those who create the perception as if we have no merit and no diploma. We started this job with 25 of my valuable colleagues with the course opened by the federation. The important thing for me is to do this job without tarnishing the reputation of this profession. To serve the country’s football.”

Confirming the punishment, a UEFA statement read: “Shadow coaching”, Art. 11 DR in conjunction with Art. 47