ISTANBUL
A retrial on the match-fixing scandal involving Fenerbahce's Chairman Aziz Yildirim, which broke out after 2010-11 Turkish Spor Toto Super League, was decided unanimously by Istanbul's 13th High Penal Court Monday.
The decision was criticized by Trabzonspor secretary general Koksay Guney who said the court's decision disregards the adjudication when the evidence is obvious that match fixing took place. He also denounced the decisions taken by the European football's governing body, UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the Fenerbahce club which was banned from European competitions for two seasons. He also remarked that the board of the club will meet soon to decide on the road map ahead.
Hakan Oran, Trabzonspor's legal representative declared that the decision of the Istanbul 13th High Penal Court is scandalous and they intend to bring their objection to the higher court at Istanbul 14th High Penal Court.
Turkey's match fixing scandal broke out after 2010-11 season of the highest division in the Spor Toto Super League, when a controversial title victory by Istanbul's Fenerbahce who finished as winners of the competition through goal average points rather than opponents Trabzonspor completing the race in the runner-up position.
Turkish officials conducted technical surveillance and physical observations for eight months before they decided to launch legal action in July 2011.
After legal action was taken in Turkey, UEFA barred Fenerbahce from the Champions' League for two seasons as a result of its investigation.
In August 2013, CAS approved UEFA's decision to ban Fenerbahce for two seasons in the European tournaments due to match-fixing. Additionally, another Istanbul team Besiktas was also banned from the European tournaments for a season because of match fixing activities.
UEFA, who have a "zero tolerance policy" towards match fixing and racism, recently banned another two Turkish Spor Toto Super League clubs, Eskisehirspor and Sivasspor from European challenges for match fixing activities during a Spor Toto Super League game in the 2010-11 season.
Any involvement in match-fixing automatically disqualifies a club from European competitions, according to the UEFA's regulations.
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