Fixers, not clubs, should be punished: Turkish PM

ISTANBUL - The Associated Press

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses on March 22, 2012 the opening of the annual UEFA Congress meeting, the official gathering of UEFA's 53 member associations, in Istanbul. AFP PHOTO / BULENT KILIC

Turkey's prime minister says individuals rather than clubs should be punished for match-fixing.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's comments came during his opening speech at UEFA's annual congress, gathering 53 member associations in Istanbul today

Erdogan said punishments should be limited to the perpetrators, arguing that "crimes are personal."

Turkish football has been plagued by a match-fixing scandal, allegedly involving more than a dozen games last season. Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yildirim and 92 other people are on trial accused of fixing games.

UEFA barred Fenerbahçe from the Champions League, but the Turkish federation has yet to make a decision on other possible sanctions.

UEFA is pressing Turkey to "rapidly" take action against clubs implicated.