Prosecutor seeks to drop Turkish match-fixing case

ISTANBUL

Prosecutors on Monday called for football match-fixing charges against Fenerbahce President Aziz Yildirim to be dropped.

In a seven-page document submitted to the Istanbul’s High Criminal Court no: 13, prosecutor Abdullah Mirza Coskun said the charges of match-fixing and establishing a criminal organization should be dropped on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

The charges allege that Yildirim, 62, rigged games and offered payments to rival players and club officials. They stem from a scandal during the 2010/11 season in Turkey’s top flight, when the Istanbul club emerged champions thanks to a four-goal difference over second-placed Trabzonspor, who ended the season on the same points.

Yildirim was convicted in 2012 over the same matter and released on appeal. If he is convicted again, he would return to prison and be forced to step down as president, a position he first occupied in 1998.

The court is due to give its decision on Oct. 9.