Fenerbahce, the Turkish soccer champion, led losses among publicly listed sports teams amid a match-fixing probe that’s threatening to strip the club of its 18th title, the most in the league’s history. Aziz Yildirim, Fenerbahce chairman, returned today to the organized-crimes division at the Istanbul police department after a hospital visit, state-run Anatolia news agency said. He was taken into custody yesterday along with other executives, footballers, coaches, journalists and former officials. A special prosecutor in Istanbul led the operations in Turkey’s biggest city and 14 other provinces, resulting in more than 50 detentions in an investigation into Fenerbahce and teams and players, Milliyet newspaper said. Fenerbahce Sportif Hizmetler Sanayi & Ticaret AS, which owns license rights to the sports team brand, dropped 13.75 liras, or 19 percent, to 57.5 liras ($36) in Istanbul, after the biggest decline since October 2008. It was followed by Besiktas and Trabzonspor. “The pie is big and revenue from sponsorship deals are great, thus it’s conceivable that different methods were considered to reach the goal†of championship, said Hakan Sukur, first-time deputy elect from the governing Justice and Development Party and former national striker who won the UEFA Cup with Galatasaray in 2000. “Recently passed laws brought a new dimension to pursue investigations of match-fixing.†‘Multiple’ Investigations FIFA’s head of security Chris Eaton said in an e-mail to Bloomberg News that the arrests “would seem to be the result of cooperation with†an investigation in Germany, which last year unearthed a match-fixing gang that had Europe-wide reach. “There are now multiple national police investigations targeting match-fixing across the globe,†Eaton said. “I will be interested to know for how long the information now being acted upon in Turkey has been known.†Besiktas Futbol Yatirimlari Sanayi & Ticaret AS dropped 6.7 percent to 9.56 liras, while Trabzonspor Sportif Yatirim & Futbol Isletmeciligi Ticaret TAS, which isn’t under investigation, declined 7.6 percent to 16.50 liras. The benchmark ISE National 100 Index gained 922.22, or 1.5 percent, to 64,186.73 by the close in Istanbul, its highest since June 7. Prosecutor Mehmet Berk wasn’t available for comment and Yildirim’s attorney Rezan Epozdemir said he couldn’t immediately comment. The Istanbul Police Department declined to comment. “Everyone should know that Fenerbahce Sports Club has never been and will never be engaged in any unlawful and illegal activity,†the club said yesterday in a statement posted on its website. “We would like to stress our trust in our legal system once again, wishing that the truth will come on as soon as possible.†Season Delayed? Fenerbahce Sportif said today in a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange that the investigation doesn’t include its documents and records. Officials are also investigating Kardemir Karabukspor SK, Besiktas JK, Altay SK of Izmir and Genclerbirligi SK of Ankara as part of the alleged match-fixing plot, according to Anatolia. The beginning of the next football season might be delayed because of the investigations, Milliyet reported, citing a person from the police department. The top league is scheduled to resume Aug. 7, according to the Turkish Football Federation’s website. “The judiciary has made a decision and carried out operations within its scope,†Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a one-time footballer, said yesterday in response to the bribery scandal. “Our hope is that there won’t be a troubling situation.†Bloomberg
Seven jailed in Turkish match-fixing probe A Turkish court jailed seven people pending trial on Wednesday as part of a major match-fixing investigation which has cast a shadow over the country's multi-billion-dollar 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. 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 next season into disarray a month before kick-off. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (pictured), himself a Fenerbahce fan, called for a rapid and just outcome to the investigation, saying the affair was staining the country's image internationally. "Let's not be stained in the international community. In fact the current discussions [of the investigation] are already a stain. This must be cleaned up rapidly," he told reporters at a news conference to announce his new cabinet. The Istanbul court released another 11 people, whom prosecutors had asked to be remanded in custody, bringing the total of those released to 15. Prosecutors on Wednesday were questioning another 25 suspects, including two Fenerbahce directors, two Fenerbahce players and the chairman of Sivasspor, Anatolian said. 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. HEART PROBLEMS 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 Champions League along with second-placed Trabzonspor. 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. Fenerbahce's Yildirim was receiving hospital treatment on Wednesday for suspected heart problems. 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. 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 its faith in the justice system. Among matches being investigated were two Fenerbahce games, both of which the club won, against Eskisehirspor and Sivasspor last season. Four Four Two
More jailed in Turkish match-fixing probe A Turkish court jailed 15 more people, including top football club executives, pending trial on Thursday as part of a major match-fixing investigation which the prime minister said is staining the country's image. Three executives of champions Fenerbahce, the chairman of Sivasspor and coach of Eskisehirspor were among the 15 sent to jail on the orders of an Istanbul court, state-run Anatolian news agency reported. The investigation has thrown preparations for the new season into disarray just a month before kick-off and the Turkish Football Federation is expected to act soon in response to the allegations without waiting for the outcome of the case. Among possible sanctions are exclusion from competitions, relegation to a lower division and potentially the loss of tens of millions of dollars in income. Any individuals convicted of match-fixing could face lengthy prison sentences. A total of 22 have now been jailed after seven were sent to Metris prison on Wednesday and prosecutors on Thursday called for another three people to be remanded in custody while releasing a further eight people, TV channels reported. Shares in Fenerbahce, the wealthy Istanbul club which won the league for a record 18th time last season, have lost a third of their value since news of the police raids emerged. Fenerbahce have denied involvement in any wrongdoing. Shares in Trabzonspor , runners-up last season, surged 17 percent, bringing gains in the last three days to 40 percent, on speculation the league title could be awarded to them. Istanbul police headquarters said in a statement on Wednesday it had seized eight unlicensed guns in the raids after a probe launched in December produced evidence of match-fixing in 19 games in the first and second divisions. "STAINING IMAGE" Out of 61 people detained in raids launched early on Sunday 35 have now been released leaving the 22 jailed pending trial and the three prosecutors have asked to be held in custody. The most high-profile detainee, Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim, was sent to police headquarters on Thursday after being treated in hospital for suspected heart problems. Broadcaster CNN Turk said he was exercising his right to silence in police questioning. He is expected to attend court on Friday for a ruling on whether he will be jailed. Among others in jail are Sivasspor's goalkeeper, a former international striker, and the former chairmen of Diyarbakirspor and Giresunspor. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (pictured), himself a Fenerbahce fan and member of its congress, has called for a rapid and just outcome to the investigation, saying the affair was staining the country's image internationally. European football's governing body UEFA has set a deadline of July 15 for confirmation of the team taking part in the third Champions League qualifying round. Trabzonspor were runners-up to Fenerbahce in the league and would normally take that place. 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. Four Four Two