Turkish court inprisoned seven people pending trial as part of a major match fixing probe scandal which cast a dark shadow over the footbal crazed country’s multi-billion dollar soccer league (turkish football league)

The seven suspects, including the former chairmen of Diyarbakirspor and Giresunspor, were sent to prisom in Istanbul overnight.

They are among 61 people, including Aziz Yildirim,the chairman of league champions Fenerbahce, detained since Sunday in a probe which has hit soccer 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.

Fenerbahce president and officials among detainees

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. Newly elected president of Turkey football federation Mehmet Ali Aydınlar talked to the Chief of Istanbul Police Department, giving and getting information regarding the biggest match fixing scandal in Turkey.

Fenerbahce, which is at the centre of the scandal 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 Champions League along with second-placed Trabzonspor.

Turkey Match Fixing Scandal : Some heads will roll

If any clubs are found guilty of wrongdoing they could face exclusion from competitions, strip of championship title, 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, according to the newest draft law targeting violence and disorder in sports, passed by Parliament last March.

European soccer 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.

Turkey Match Fixing Scandal : Turkey Economy will also take a hit, as shares plummet

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.

Betting on some matches are not yet part of match fixing scandal in Turkey

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

It can also be expected that these and other matches from turkish football leagues will be put under investigation, which is not part of the match fixing scandal yet. It is heavily suspected among public view that newly elected president of Turkey football federation Mehmet Ali Aydınlar had talks with the match fixing probe’s prosecutor, regarding those games which are extremely betted upon. A secondary wave of arrests and new accusations on match fixing probe scandal are expected.

 

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