Fenerbahce president Aziz Yıldırım convicted but released in Turkey’s biggest match-fixing scandal trial / Breaking News

Fenerbahce President Aziz Yıldırım the main suspect in the Turkey’s biggest match fixing scandal trial was released from jail despite being convicted after a one year-long imprisonment and a 4,5 months-long trial into match-fixing investigation. Breaking News

Istanbul / NationalTurk – Fenerbahçe football club chairman Aziz Yıldırım and other remaining high-profile suspects such as Trabzonport President Sadri Şener and Beşiktaş former vice-president Serdal Adalı said their final words in the Istanbul courtroom today and the highly anticipated court decisions came shortly after.

Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yıldırım responded with a Fenerbahçe motto when asked what his final words were. ‘ I trust the Turkish judges and prosecutors. Even standing at the gallows, our final word will be ‘Fenerbahce.’ I want my acquittal,’ he stated. Meanwhile some Fenerbahce fans spent the night in front of the courthouse in Istanbul’s Cağlayan neighborhood in a show of solidarity with their president Aziz Yıldırım.

The judge read then the Match fixing case verdict. Here is the verdict of Turkey Match Fixing scandal:

– Olgun Peker sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for establishing and managing criminal organization.

– Aziz Yildirim sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for establishing a criminal organization, and 3 years and 9 months in prison on charges of match-fixing and was fined 1 Million Turkish Liras. He was acquitted from charges he faced prior to a legislation change on Turkish law No. 6222. Aziz Yildirim was found guilty of match-fixing and incentive paying in following Turkish League matches : Fenerbahce-Karabük, Fenerbahçe-Ankaragücü, Fenerbahce-Sivas, Trabzon, Eskişehir, Fenerbahçe-IBB.

In addition Aziz Yıldırım’s request for acquittal has been accepted. Yıldırım can be sent back to prison for 3 years and 2 months, if the release decision will be rejected by the Supreme Court and if the Supreme Court approves his sentences.

The Istanbul court released Yildirim and three other suspects considering the time they spent in prison over the past year.

Yıldırım will also be banned from club managing if Supreme court approves the verdict and his conviction.

The landmark match fixing case, which became public after the first wave of arrests and detentions took place on July 3, 2011, was the first time high profile Turkish teams and officials were involved in match fixing and game manipulation allegations.

Turkey’s match fixing scandal trial ended, Supreme court will have the final word

A total number of 93 footballers, team managers and club executives were listed as suspects in the Turkey match-fixing indictment. The Istanbul prosecutor was demanding prison time for 21 people.

Fenerbahce Chairman Aziz Yıldırım, who is arguably one of the most influental figure in Turkish football, is the highest profile name in the case and has been jailed pending trial and charges since early July.

Other important names accused in the Turkish match fixing trial are also released. Fellow Fenerbahçe official İlhan Ekşioğlu, former Giresunspor chairman and alleged mob leader Olgun Peker and player agent Yusuf Turanlı have been the remaining four people whose imprisonments continued pending charges.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) led its own probe on the match fixing scandal, and decided that there were efforts to manipulate some games in the Turkish league, but they were not reflected on the pitch.

The TFF cleared all 16 Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahçe, Besiktas and Trabzonspor of involvement in the Turkish match-fixing scandal, but it has banned players and club executives for manipulating and attempting to fixing the games.

Former Istanbul BB player İbrahim Akın got the biggest ban, with being suspended from football for two years for manipulating a Fenerbahçe-Istanbul BB match. He was also found guilty and sentenced to 1 year and 6 months prison.

NationalTurk will continue to provide information on this story’s development with frequent updates.

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