Turkish match fixing trial gets underway in Istanbul

By Andrew Warshaw

February 14 – Nine months after the start of one of the world’s biggest ever match fixing probes, almost 100 Turkish officials, including a raft of past and present club Presidents, managers and players, went on trial in Istanbul today.

Those accused include disgraced Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım, one of many high-profile figures arrested last year after claims that as many as 19 first and second division matches were fixed during the 2010-1011 season.

In all, 31 people were detained, of whom 23 are behind bars including Yıldırım.

Fenerbahçe, who won the 2011 Turkish League championship, has seen no fewer than 13 of its members charged.

Prosecutors are demanding jail terms of 147 years for Yıldırım, who denies any wrongdoing, on corruption charges.

Eight other clubs will have representatives in the dock include Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor, two of Turkey’s other top clubs.

Fenerbahçe has already been banned from this season’s Champions League and Beşiktaş stripped of the Turkish Cup.

In December, Turkish lawmakers adopted a new rule designed to reduce sentences for football corruption.

The country’s President, Abdullah Gül, initially attempted to veto the bill but it was ultimately pushed through Parliament as sport and politics became intrinsically linked.

But it was vetoed by the country’s President, Abdullah Gül.

Fenerbahçe went unbeaten through the second half of last season and beat Trabzonspor to the title on goal difference.

If found guilty, the club could face similar humiliation suffered by Juventus, who were stripped of their 2005 and 2006 Italian titles after an unconnected match rigging scandal.

Hundreds of Fenerbahçe fans protested outside the court room as the hearing began, shouting slogans to defend their club’s reputation.

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