Match-fixing suspects jailed in Turkey

Seven suspects sent to prison ahead of trial as allegations rock Turkish league.

Turkish match fixing
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Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim was among those detained when the allegations emerged [EPA]

A Turkish court jailed seven people pending trial as part of a major match-fixing investigation which has cast a shadow over the country’s football league.

The seven suspects, including the former chairmen of Diyarbakirspor and Giresunspor, were sent to Metris jail in Istanbul overnight, state-run Anatolian news agency reported on Wednesday.

They are among 61 people, including the chairman of champions Fenerbahce, detained since Sunday in a probe which has hit football company shares and thrown preparations for the next season into disarray just a month before kick off.

The Istanbul court released another 11 people, whom prosecutors had asked to be remanded in custody, bringing the total of those released to 15.

Another 25 suspects, including two Fenerbahce directors, two Fenerbahce players and the chairman of Sivasspor, were sent to court on Wednesday morning to face prosecutors, broadcaster NTV reported.
 
On Tuesday, Turkey’s football federation said it would act swiftly in response to the allegations, without waiting for the outcome of the judicial investigation.

Fenerbahce, which is at the centre of the probe and whose chairman Aziz Yildirim is the highest-profile detainee, won the league for a record 18th time last season to qualify for the European Champions League along with second-placed Trabzonspor.

Relegation

If any clubs are found guilty of wrongdoing they could face exclusion from competitions, relegation to a lower division and the loss of potentially tens of millions of dollars in income. 

Any individuals convicted of crimes could also face lengthy prison sentences.

European football governing body UEFA has set a deadline of July 15 for confirmation of the team taking part in the third Champions League qualifying round.

Police launched raids in 15 provinces across Turkey on Sunday, searching club premises and detaining players and administrators in connection with the scandal.

Turkish media have cited allegations in police reports such as a striker being offered money to not score in one game, a goalkeeper deliberately failing to prevent a goal and a club requesting a particular referee for a key derby match.

Shares in the listed company of Istanbul-based Fenerbahce have lost a third of their value since news of the investigation emerged.

Other clubs have also suffered share price falls.
 
Fenerbahce said in a statement it had not been involved in any wrongdoing and expressed faith in the justice system.

Among matches being investigated were two Fenerbahce games, both of which they won, against Eskisehirspor and Sivasspor last season.

Source: Reuters