Turkey
Chairman of Turkish premier league champions arrested in match-fixing probe
Aziz Yildirim, chairman of last season's Spor Toto Super League champions Fenerbahce, was arrested and sent to prison on Sunday, after days of interrogation as part of a match-fixing investigation that has recently shaken Turkey.
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ISTANBUL/DUZCE- Yildirim, who was detained last Sunday within the scope of an investigation into the nationwide match-fixing scandal, was arrested by the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court on duty yesterday, and sent to Metris prison.
The 59-year-old chairman was arrested on charges of "setting up & managing a criminal organization" and "match-fixing".
As Yildirim was under interrogation at the courthouse in Istanbul's Besiktas district, Fenerbahce fans gathered at Bagdat Street on the other side of the city to protest the investigation. In the meantime, thousands of fans travelled to northwestern Duzce province, where Fenerbahce players are currently on a training camp, to show their love and support.
Commenting on yesterday's arrest, football experts said that chairman Yildirim was also faced with the risk of being expelled from Fenerbahce Sports Club due to the club's regulations on disciplinary actions.
If convicted as a result of the judiciary process, Yildirim, who has been Fenerbahce's chairman for 13 years, will no longer be a member of the sports club, sources said.
On July 3, Turkish police waged operations in several Turkish provinces and searched premises of several football clubs, detaining scores including first division club players and executives in connection with match-fixing charges. Suspects included Aziz Yildirim, chairman of last season's champions Fenerbahce, a number of club officials, players and executives from several Turkish teams.
During his week-long interrogation, Yildirim was hospitalized several times due to his health problems and also went through an angiography.
11 July 2011