Turkish teams sent to Disciplinary Committe in match-fixing case

Hurriyet.com.tr

TFF Chairman Yıldırım Demirören. AA photo

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced today that 16 Turkish teams, including top clubs like Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, will be called for hearings before the Disciplinary Committe (PFDK).

TFF Chairman Yıldırım Demirören made the announcement in the southern province of Antalya after a three-day-long deliberation by the TFF board.

Demirören said the TFF decided to send 16 teams to the PFDK for hearings, in order to give the teams a chance to acquit themselves in court with regard to match-fixing allegations. An ongoing case claims that certain club members attempted to manipulate the outcomes of a total of 22 matches in Turkey's Super League last year. Demirören said that the TFF has determined that the attempts to manipulate game results could not be realized on the field.

The teams referred to the PFDK are Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Trabzonspor, Beşiktaş, İstanbul BŞB, Kayserispor, Bursaspor, Eskişehirspor, Antalyaspor, Samsunspor, Sivasspor, Mersin İY, K. Karabükspor, Gençlerbirliği, Manisaspor, and Ankaragücü.

Demirören also said the 58th article of the TFF Disciplinary Code has been revised, effective today. According to the much-debated 58th article, “any team that manipulates or attempts to manipulate matches will be relegated,” but the football’s governing body has decided to lighten the punishment for the alleged rigging, apparently our of concern that interest in the Super League would drop if top clubs were relegated. The revised 58th article will knock off points off the records of teams found to be involved in match-fixing, rather than relegating them.