Beşiktaş chairman testifies in UEFA match-fixing ban appeal

NYON, Switzerland

Beşiktaş was charged with its officials’ attempting to fix the 2011 Super Cup final against Istanbul BB. AA photo

Beşiktaş chairman Fikret Orman gave his defense for the appeal against a UEFA match-fixing ban July 11, a day after Istanbul arch-rivals Fenerbahçe's hearing. 

Orman was at European football’s governing body’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland as UEFA is hearing Beşiktaş’s appeal against a one-year ban from continental competition. 

Last month, Beşiktaş, along with Fenerbahçe, was handed a suspension from European competitions for their involvement in the manipulation of Turkish football matches. 

Beşiktaş was charged with its officials’ attempting to fix the 2011 Super Cup final against Istanbul BB, while Fenerbahçe was charged with some of its board members’ attempting to manipulate some games from the 2010-2011 Turkish Super League. 

The two clubs’ officials were handed prison sentences by an Istanbul court in the Turkish judiciary process, but the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) decided not to punish the teams, saying even though there were efforts to manipulate some games, they had not been reflected on the pitch. 
UEFA then decided to open its own investigation.