Chelsea switch annoys Besiktas

Claudio Ranieri will take his side to Germany

Besiktas have responded angrily after losing their appeal to have their Champions League match with Chelsea moved back to Turkey.

On Wednesday the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) backed Uefa's decision that the Chelsea match should be played at Shalke's stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on 9 December.

Uefa made the decision following the terrorist attacks in Istanbul which killed 61 people and injured more than 700 last month.

But Besiktas say the decision was taken because two Leeds fans were killed before a Uefa Cup match against Galatasaray in April 2000.

"Two Englishman lost their lives in Istanbul years ago... the decision is based on absurd reasons," Besiktas communications director Mete Duren said.

Besiktas manager Sinan Ergin was also deeply unhappy about the decision.

Uefa has chosen Germany due to the large Turkish population, making it feel as much like a home game as possible From Jaymz Metcalfe Have your say on 606

"We call on all our supporters, wherever they are, to be at the stadium," he said.

"Turks are seen as second-class citizens, but we'll show them how strong we are."

Uefa have also switched a Uefa Cup second-round, second-leg tie between Israel's Maccabi Haifa and Valencia from Izmir, Turkey to Rotterdam's Sparta Stadium on 11 December.

The decision to move the fixtures sparked uproar in Turkey, with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accusing Uefa of bowing to "terrorism".