Bosses take surprising turn in 58th article meet

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Union head Demirören says they are urging the TFF for more balance in the 58th article of the Disciplinary Code.

The Union of Clubs took an unexpected turn and announced it would not urge the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to change the controversial 58th article of the disciplinary code, following a key meeting yesterday.

The Union of Clubs, consisting of chairmen from the 18 clubs in the top-level football league, convened to discuss the article on relegation regarding the match-fixing investigation. “We invite the TFF to make decisions in accordance with the universal laws of sports,” Beşiktaş Chairman Yıldırım Demirören, the head of the union, announced in a statement. “But we suggest there are some inequalities in the article.”

Several members of the union are calling for a change of the 58th article, which states “any team involved in an attempt to match fix will be relegated,” in the light of the release of the indictment into the match-fixing investigation.

Galatasaray, Trabzonspor, Orduspor and Bursaspor were the ones challenging a change in the article, while the majority was publicly demanding the article be adjusted so individuals would be punished and not the clubs.

Orduspor Chairman Nedim Türkmen said, “Those who manipulated matches and those who attempted to pay incentives could not be punished in the same way.”

A total of 93 football club officials, players and coaches are suspects as part of the match-fixing case and several teams, including defending Spor Toto Super League champion Fenerbahçe, runner-up Trabzonspor, Turkish Cup winner Beşiktaş, are listed as teams allegedly involved in match fixing.

Last month, the TFF convened to set a date for an emergency meeting where the 58th article will be discussed and is likely to be changed.

Before the General Convention Jan. 26, the meeting of the Union of Clubs holds key importance for showing the stance of the top-flight clubs, who will have a remarkable quantity weight in voting.
Meanwhile, Ankaragücü Chairman Sami Altınyuva left discussions early. Altınyuva announced he had complained about the clubs’ signing cash-strapped Ankaragücü’s players after they were out of contract.