93 charged in Turkish match-fixing probe
Prosecutors investigating match-fixing in Turkey have brought charges against 93 suspects - including the chairman of champions Fenerbahce - in an indictment that mentioned almost all of the country's top clubs, media reported on Saturday.
More than 30 players and officials, including Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim (pictured), have been jailed pending trial since the scandal forced the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to delay the start of the season by a month.
Yildirim is accused of "forming an organisation for unjust financial gain" among a raft of charges ranging from larceny to match-fixing and payment of bribes, a statement by Chief Deputy Istanbul Public Prosecutor Fikret Secen said.
One of two deputy presidents of the TFF, Goksel Gumusdag, was among those indicted on match-fixing charges.
Another suspect, Olgun Peker, an ex-president of club Orduspor, was accused of organising an armed gang.
An Istanbul court has 15 days to decide whether the case is strong enough to go to trial, the prosecutors' statement said.
On Friday, President Abdullah Gul vetoed legislation approved by parliament that would have reduced jail sentences for match-fixing crimes from a maximum 12 years to three years.
The president based his decision on concern that the public would view the change in the law as being made to benefit certain individuals, and that the reduced penalties would not act as a sufficient deterrent.
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The investigation probed alleged manipulation in 19 matches, including Fenerbahce's 4-3 victory over Sivasspor that won the league championship on the final day of last season.
Under pressure from UEFA, the Turkish Football Federation barred last term's champions Fenerbahce from this season's Champions League. Last season's runners-up Trabzonspor were entered as Fenerbahce's replacements.
Fenerbahce, Turkey's richest and best-supported club, are once again heading the rankings with 12 games played.
Other clubs mentioned in the indictment were Besiktas, Trabzonspor, Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi Spor (IBB), Sivasspor, Manisaspor, Giresunspor and Mersin Idman Yurdu.
Last term's cup final between Besiktas and IBB is another match under investigation. Winners Besiktas have returned the trophy pending the probe's outcome.
With Saturday's fixtures still to be played, out of the top eight in the standings, only second-placed Galatasaray have been untouched by the scandal.