Turkey set to approve reduced penalties for fixing

ANKARA - The Associated Press

Fenerbahçe fans gather to support their president. AA Photo

Turkey's parliament is poised to override a presidential veto and approve a reduction in prison terms for match-fixing, a move that could lead to lighter sentences for suspects in a recent rigging scandal.

The country's ruling and two main opposition parties say they will again vote for the new reduced term of a maximum three years in prison later Friday. Parliament first voted for the changes earlier this month, only eight months after it approved sentences of up to 12 years for anyone convicted of rigging games.

President Abdullah Gül vetoed it on the grounds that it was giving "the impression of a special arrangement" to save suspects in the recent match-fixing scandal, including Fenerbahce President Aziz Yıldırım.

A court says a total of 93 suspects will go on trial on Feb. 14.