Turkey change match-fixing law and send 16 clubs to an ethics hearing

2012-04-30 10:31:20

The Turkish Football Federation president Yıldırım Demirören held a press conference today in the Gloria Golf Hotel conference room, Antalya, Turkey regarding the ongoing match fixing probe. A total of 93 officials, managers and players, including Aziz Yıldırım the chairman of reigning champion Fenerbahce, are on trial, accused of involvement in match fixing last season.

Demirören declared that the TFF has referred 16 clubs to the Professional Football Discipline Committee (PFDK):
Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Trabzonspor, Sivassspor, Manisaspor, Ankaragücü, Gençlerbirliği, Eskişehirspor, Bucaspor, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor, Bursaspor, Kayserispor, Karabükspor, Konyaspor and Kasımpaşa.

The PFDK is expected to deliver its verdict on whether any of the clubs were involved in acts of match fixing and giving incentive bonuses. The committee will analyse the 18 matches being suspected and give their verdict within 48 hours after hearing all clubs defence statements.

The 18 matches suspected of involvement are:

-12 February 2011 Manisa (1) - Trabzonspor (2) (Incentive bonus suspicion)

- 26 February 2011 FB (2) - Kasımpaşa (0) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 6 March 2011 Bursaspor (1) - İBB (1) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 7 March 2011 - Gençlerbirliği (2) - Fenerbahçe (4) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 20 March 2011 Gençlerbirliği (1) - Trabzonspor (2) (Incentive bonus suspicion)

- 9 April 2011 Eskişehir (1) - FB (3) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 17 April 2011 Trabzonspor (1) - Bursaspor (0) (Incentive bonus suspicion)

- 22 April 2011 Eskişehir (0) - Trabzonspor (0) (Incentive bonus suspicion)

- 24 Aprfil 2011 Bucaspor (3) - Fenerbahçe (4) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 1 May 2011 Fenerbahçe -İBB (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 8 May 2011 Karabük (0) - FB (1) (Match-fixing suspicion)

-11 May 2001 BJK - İBB: Turkish Cup Final (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 15 May 2011 Fenerbahçe (6) - Ankaragücü (0) (Incentive bonus suspicion)

- 15 May 2011 Trabzonspor - İBB Incentive bonus suspicion

- 22 May 2011 Sivasspor (3) - Fenerbahçe (4) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 4 April 2011 Diyarbakır (0) - Giresunspor (2) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 18 April 2011 Karşıyaka (0) - Giresunspor (1) (Match-fixing suspicion)

- 30 May 2011 Giresunspor (1) - Mersin İ. Y (2) (Match-fixing suspicion)

Demirören went onto announce that the match-fixing related Article 58 had been changed due to the current law: "We have made amendments to Article 58 to correct disproportionation punishments being handed out by the law."

Although, contrary to reports circulating around the media that clubs will only receive a 12 point deduction if found guilty of match fixing, Article 58 section (1) part b) states that if a club chairman or members of the board are found guilty of involvement in match fixing it will result in their team being relegated. The minimum punishment for teams found in infringement of this law will be a 12 point deduction, and those directly involved can be expelled from any participation in the sport for 1-3 years.

The outcome of the PFDK's decision however, is independent from an ongoing trial process involving the 93 Turkish officials, coaches and players, including Fenerbahce chairman's Aziz Yıldırım who stands accused of involvement in manipulating games and forming an unarmed criminal organization which intended to obtain financial income through sport.