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Prosecutor requests jail for Fenerbahce chief

The court was expected to rule on the request to imprison Aziz Yildirim later on Friday. If jailed, he will join 25 people already remanded in custody on charges of manipulation in 19 matches, which Turkey's prime minister said has stained Turkey's image.

Yildirim was taken to hospital after becoming ill following the request that a court jail him, state-run Anatolia agency reported late on Friday.

Among possible sanctions are the loss of the championship title, 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.

Istanbul police have said they seized eight unlicensed guns in this week's raids after a probe launched in December produced evidence of match-fixing in 19 first and second divisions games.

Prime Minister Erdogan, 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.

Those already jailed pending trial include three Fenerbahce executives, the chairman of Sivasspor, the coach of Eskisehirspor, Sivasspor's goalkeeper and the former chairmen of Diyarbakirspor and Giresunspor.

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 would normally take that place as runners-up.