3rd July, 2012
Nigerian, Joseph Yobo’s Turkish team, Fenerbahce, who were allowed back into European competition last week by UEFA, may find themselves expelled again after their president, Aziz Yildirim, was sentenced to prison for corruption and match-fixing.
However, Yildirim and three other accused in the 11-month saga have been released on bail pending appeals after the sentences were delivered by Mehmet Ekinci, chief judge of a “specially authorised” 16th Istanbul High Criminal Court.
Yildirim was handed a jail term of six years, three months for “creating and managing a criminal organisation” and for fixing a number of matches. The decision has been forwarded to the Supreme Court of Appeals for approval. Yildirim could then be recalled to prison in which he has been confined since his arrest in July last year.
He has also been fined Turkish Lira 1,312,000 for rigging several matches.
The match-fixing investigation concerned games in the top two divisions in the 2010-11 season which ended with Fenerbahçe as champions. In July police raided homes and football club premises, detaining 60 people suspected of match fixing.