Turkish football took another tough hit on Monday as Fenerbahce and Besiktas were charged by UEFA in a match-fixing case stemming from the 2011 Turkish Cup final.
UEFA will hold a disciplinary hearing on June 22nd to hear arguments from the clubs and the officials who have been charged. Verdicts are expected the following week.
Fenerbahce released a statement confirming the investigation and disclosing the the names of the five club officials:
Club president Aziz Yıldırım and board members Alaeddin Yıldırım, Mehmet Şekip Mosturoğlu, İlhan Yüksel Ekşioğlu and Cemil Turhan are under investigation by UEFA.
UEFA is calling for the club officials being investigated to be given a lifetime ban from footballing activities if convicted.
The club is being accused of influencing the results of games and if found guilty will face a two-year suspension from European competitions.
Trouble started for Yildirim last July when he was convicted in a criminal trial where 93 people were charged in a match fixing scandal tied to the club’s league-winning run in 2011. This time around, if found guilty the club will be expelled from the Champions League for the second time in three seasons after being banned from the 2011-12 tournament when the initial fixing allegations were made.
Besiktas also released a statement confirming the disciplinary proceedings names of the two club members being investigated.
Former vice-president Serdal Adalı and former-manager Tayfur Havutçu are being investigation by UEFA for influencing the result of the Turkish Cup final match played on 11 May 2011 against İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Spor. If found guilty Beşiktaş will be suspended from the 2013-14 Europea League competition and Serdal Adalı as well as Tayfur Havutçu will face a lifetime ban from any footballing activities.
If Besiktas are found guilty, they too will be punished although exactly what that punishment will be remains to be seen. The club is already serving a European competition ban for misleading UEFA over non-payment of players wages in 2011 and violating financial fair play regulations.
One way or another it looks like Bursaspor, who finished fourth in the Turkish League one spot behind Besiktas, will likely benefit. But overall, this is yet another black eye for Turkish football.
