Delayed kick-off
July 26, 2011
Turkish football chiefs on Monday opted to delay the start of the soccer season by more than a month to allow for further investigations into allegations of match-fixing.
Turkish football association (TFF) President Mehmet Ali Aydinlar said matches in the country's top division - the Super Lig - would kick off on September 9, rather than August 5.
Games in the second division were rescheduled to begin on September 10.
Thirty people have been charged and jailed, awaiting trial, this month as part of the far-reaching probe into match-fixing and bribery. The irregularities are believed to relate to games in both Turkey's first and second divisions.
Notable arrests
The president of reigning champions Fenerbahce, Aziz Yildirim, is the most prominent figure among those who have been detained. The vice-president and the coach of another Istanbul club, Besiktas, are also among those imprisoned.
The suspects are accused of trying to influence the outcome of 19 games last season, in which Fenerbahce secured the title on only the last day of the campaign. Fenerbahce may even be forced to give up the title, depending on the outcome of the probe.
Earlier in the month, Turkish Cup winners Besiktas returned that trophy to the TFF until the matter is resolved.
Author: Richard Connor (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Chuck Penfold