Turkish government gets involved in match-fixing probe

The Turkish government will get involved in the investigation into possible match-fixing in the national football federation (TFF).

The investigation involves first division club Denizlispor, which is alleged to have offered to pay three Malatyaspor players to throw a match with Gaziantepspor, which would help Denizlispor avoid relegation on the last day of the season.

Malatyaspor lost the game 1-0 and was relegated. Denizlispor, who have rejected the claims, ended the season 15th and avoided relegation.

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said there was no question of the new season being delayed by the investigations but, even if the claims proved to be false, the public needed to be reassured.

"I will ask the inspectorate body at the prime minister's office to conduct work on the match-fixing allegations," Sahin was quoted as saying by state-run Anatolian news agency.

"We have asked Italy and other countries with sports courts for their (relevant) laws. We want to learn from their experience."

Earlier this month, Italian Serie A clubs Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio were found guilty of conspiring with referees and linesmen to rig games during the 2004-2005 season. All but AC Milan were given points penalties and relegated to Serie B. AC Milan stayed in Serie A but received a points penalty.

The TFF was set on Monday to appoint former chairman Levent Bicacki to lead its own investigation into the allegations.

Denizli prosecutor Selami Hatipoglu had already announced over the weekend that he had decided to open a judicial investigation on the basis of press reports.

"It will investigate whether there was match fixing or threats or payments made. After the probe a decision will be made on whether legal action needs to be taken," media reports quoted Hatipoglu as saying.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.