AKP deputy slams his party over amendments on rigging

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey will have an image of ‘a country that allows rigging and match fixing’ if the bill passes again, according to AKP deputy Şamil Tayyar.

A deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) slammed his party’s support of the law reducing penalties for match fixing and backed President Abdullah Gül’s unexpected veto.

“If this law is passed without any amendments, it will be impossible to fight against gangs and mafias in sports,” Şamil Tayyar told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Tayyar, a former journalist himself, wrote a letter to President Abdullah Gül asking him not to approve the bill. He was the only AKP deputy to criticize the law.

Tayyar said he was strictly against the law. “It’s impossible for me to support such an amendment for political prosperity. If I should pay a political price, I’m ready to pay it. I will not participate in voting in the General Assembly, if they decide to resend it.”

Tayyar indicated the new bill denies that match fixing and rigging are organized crimes. “If this bill passes again, Parliament will intervene in an ongoing trial. All of the suspects will be released. It will be impossible to fight against mafia.”

Turkey will have an image of “a country that allows rigging and match fixing” if the bill passes again, Tayyar said. The Ergenekon case, the purported network that allegedly planned to oust the government, and the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) case, an alleged military coup plot against the AKP, may be influenced negatively, he said. “Raids against gangs will lose its persuasiveness after this law. There will be inequality between the suspects of Ergenekon and match fixers, because you release the match fixers while others remain in jail.”

Football clubs have millions of fans and politicians are afraid of losing votes, Tayyar said. “Some of those who were arrested because of match-fixing allegations have close links with some Ergenekon suspects. A new amendment has been required following the arrests. This power is supplied by the deep structure within the state.”

In a related development, Tayyar suggested holding referendum for the law reducing penalties for match fixing. “If it is approved in the referendum, I will resign. Will the deputy group chairmen resign, if it’s not approved?” Tayyar said at a press conference in Parliament.