Match fixing allegations in Turkey has widened as Turkish police question several people including ex Galatasaray and Turkey star Arif Erdem.

Arif Erdem, assistant coach of Turkish Super League club İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor was taken to questioning by Turkish police under a massive crack down on illegal betting in the country which emerged to daylight with the Bochum match fixing investigation.

The Turkish Super League game between İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor(IBB) vs Gençlerbirliği in May 2009 which IBB won 3-1 was investigated by German police with allegations that it might have been linked to a major European match fixing ring.

The Turkish Super League game played on 3rd May between IBB and Gençlerbirliği was particularly important as IBB required a win to stay in the top flight. A lose would have meant relegation to Turkish second division. Gençlerbirliği had managed to stay in the Turkish Superleague and was out of contest for any European spots.

Goal keeper Recep Öztürk who plays for Turkish Super League team Konyaspor and Erman Kılıç who plays for Turkish Super League side Sivasspor have also been taken by police for questioning as Öztürk was the Gençlerbirliği goal keeper and Kılıç was a IBB player in the game in question.

Arif Erdem who’s name had been mentioned in the Bochum investigation when the football scandal first came to light had angrily denied the allegations.

National Turk can confirm that at least 31 people have been taken into questioning in simultaneous raids that took place in 10 cities.

Some of the suspects taken into questioning are in the administration of teams in the Turkish Super League.

National Turk / Turkey
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