Fenerbahçe makes defense on match-fixing case to UEFA's disciplinary body

NYON - Doğan News Agency

Around 500 Fenerbahçe fans from neighboring countries made the trip UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland. AA photo

Turkey's football giant Fenerbahçe has appeared today in front of UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Committee regarding the match-fixing case for a number of games in the 2010-2011 season.

Chairman Aziz Yıldırım, who had been found guilty of match rigging and sentenced to over a year of prison headed Fenerbahçe's delegation, which presented its defense for over 5.5 hours, a day after their archrival Beşiktaş's executives were heard by the committee.

UEFA's decision on sanctions against the two clubs is expected to be announced on June 24 or 25. Around 500 Fenerbahçe fans from neighboring countries gathered in front of UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland to support their club.

Both Istanbul clubs and their executives are involved in a match-fixing probe that started July 3, 2011, regarding a number of games in the 2010-2011 season, when Fenerbahçe was crowned as champion.

UEFA had previously stated that decisions affecting previous decisions by the disciplinary bodies of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) were "out of question." Fenerbahçe was banned from participating to European competitions upon the decision of the TFF while Beşiktaş could not compete last year due to financial woes.

UEFA had said earlier that the UEFA disciplinary bodies were "independent and, consequently, that it is not possible for the UEFA administration to predict what the outcome of the procedures will be."