UEFA Europa League

Benfica: 3 - Fenerbahce: 1 (Full time)

Portugal's Benfica football team defeated Turkey's Fenerbahce 3-1 in a second leg match in the UEFA Europa League semi-final on Thursday.

With tonight's win, Benfica advanced to the final game with an aggregate score of 3-2.
Thursday's game between Benfica and Fenerbahce took place in Lisbon. (LISBON/AA)

Reported ban on flags at game stirs Fenerbahçe row

Hürriyet photo

A reported ban on the national flags of Turkey and Turkish Cyprus during the Oct. 25 Europa League clash between AEL Limassol and the Yellow Canaries in Greek Cyprus has created a row within the Istanbul football giant, Fenerbahçe. While reports claimed yesterday that the club had forced its fans to sign a waiver agreeing to not unfurl Turkish or Turkish Cypriot flags for fear of provoking an incident, Fenerbahçe denied it and said fans and the team were obliged to obey UEFA fair-play rules.

The move for the match was reportedly carried out in order to avoid possible unwanted incidents that could result in a subsequent match between the two clubs in Istanbul being played behind closed doors.

The game, which will be played Oct. 25, has been placed in the risky matches category, said a statement released by Fenerbahçe on its website.
AEL Limassol, meanwhile, is not banning its supporters from bringing Greek or Greek Cypriot flags into the match.

Some 300 police officers will reportedly be deployed at the stadium during the match as part of security measures. (hurriyetdailynews)

Fenerbahçe chairman convicted in match-fixing case but set for release

Aziz Yıldırım. AA photo

Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım was sentenced today to six years in prison and fined 1.3 million Turkish Liras on charges of "forming a criminal organization" and "match fixing," but was set to be released later in the day based on time served.

Yıldırım's return to jail to serve his sentence will depend on the appeals process. The court also banned Yıldırım from continuing to direct Fenerbahçe, although the prohibition is subject to the appeals court approving the sentence against him.

Fellow Fenerbahçe official İlhan Ekşioğlu was sentenced to three years and one month in jail but was also released. Another high-profile suspect, former Beşiktaş director Serdar Adalı, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison on match fixing while Trabzonspor Chairman Sadri Şener was acquitted.

Yıldırım responded with a Fenerbahçe motto when asked what his final words were. "I trust the Turkish judges and prosecutors. Even standing at the gallows, our final word will be 'Fenerbahçe.' I want my acquittal," he said.

Fenerbahçe fans spent the night in front of the courthouse in Istanbul's Çağlayan neighborhood in a show of solidarity with Yıldırım.

The judge is expected to read the verdict after the suspects have their final say.

The landmark case, which became public after the first wave of detentions took place on July 3, 2011, was the first time high-profile Turkish teams and officials had become involved in such a probei which began on the back of allegations from Istanbul police that several games from the 2010-2011 Spor Toto Super League had been manipulated.

A total of 93 footballers, coaches and officials were listed as suspects in the indictment. The prosecutor has been seeking jail time for 21 people.

Prosecutor Ufuk Ermertcan is seeking prison terms for several members of Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor, as well as players from Eskişehirspor, Sivasspor, Gençlerbirliği and Bursaspor, for their alleged involvement in the manipulation of league games. Two officials from Beşiktaş are also listed as suspects for their alleged attempts to manipulate the team’s 2011 Ziraat Turkish Cup victory over Istanbul BB.

Yıldırım, who is arguably the most powerful man in Turkish football, is the highest-profile name in the case and has been jailed pending charges since early July 2011.

Former Giresunspor chairman and alleged mob leader Olgun Peker and player agent Yusuf Turanlı are the remaining people jailed pending charges.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) made its own investigation into the scandal and decided that there were efforts to manipulate some matches but that they were “not reflected on the pitch.”

The TFF cleared all 16 Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahçe, of involvement in the alleged match-fixing scandal, but it has banned players and club officials for manipulating and attempting to manipulate games.

Former Istanbul BB player İbrahim Akın got the biggest ban, receiving a suspension from football for two years for manipulating a Fenerbahçe-Istanbul BB match. (ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News)

Topal signs four-year contract with Fenerbahçe

Portugal's player Joao Moutinho in action against Turkey's Mehmet Topal (L) and Bekir Irtegun (R) during the friendly soccer match between Portugal and Turkey at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 02 June 2012. EPA/MARIO CRUZ

Turkish midfielder Mehmet Topal has inked a four-year contract with Istanbul club Fenerbahçe.

Fenerbahçe will pay a transfer fee of 4.5 million euros to Spanish side Valencia, according to a club announcement.

The Istanbul club reported that it had successfully concluded its talks with the Turkish midfielder, who spent two years with Valencia after moving there from Galatasaray. (Hurriyet Daily News)

Fenerbahçe back in Champion's League

AA Photo

Turkish football team Fenerbahçe will be allowed to compete in this year’s Champions League, UEFA announced today.

Fener fans were overjoyed by UEFA's call to allow the team to compete.

The club had been going through a rough patch over the past year as a result of a match-fixing scandal that had already seen it banned from last year’s Champions League.

Over the weekend, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, teams also involved in legal troubles over the nationwide match-fixing cases, were cleared to play in European competitions.

Beşiktaş, Bursaspor and Gaziantepspor, was all excluded from playing in European competitions for financial misdemeanors, although the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lifted Bursa’s ban earlier today. (Hurriyet Daily News)

Jail time sought for 21 officials in rigging case

Aziz Yıldırım. AA Photo

The prosecutor in Turkey’s ongoing match-fixing case issued his final opinion in the case on June 1, demanding jail time for 21 players and officials for their alleged role in last season’s rigging scandal.

Ufuk Ermertcan is seeking prison terms for several members of Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor, as well as players from Eskişehirspor, Sivasspor, Gençlerbirliği and Bursaspor. Two officials from Beşiktaş are also listed as suspects for their alleged attempts to manipulate the team’s 2011 Ziraat Turkish Cup victory over Istanbul BB.

Head judge Mehmet Ekinci is expected to make his verdicts on the case, which listed 93 football club officials, players and coaches as suspects, after four hearings in late June.

The case focuses on Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor’s alleged efforts to manipulate the 2010-2011 Spor Toto Super League title race. Fenerbahçe won the title over Trabzonspor on goal difference.

According to the Istanbul police, several games were allegedly manipulated, either by clubs allegedly paying their rivals to underperform, or by paying incentives to the other title contenders’ opponents to boost their performances.

According to Ermertcan’s opinion,

Aziz Yıldırım (Fenerbahçe chairman) should be punished for 14 to 39 years and nine months for fixing six matches, paying incentives to three teams and forming an illegal organization to gain unjust income;

Olgun Peker (former Giresunspor chairman) should be punished for involvement in an armed criminal organization;

Yusuf Turanlı (unlicensed player agent) should be punished on organization and match-fixing charges;
Bülent Uygun (former Eskişehirspor coach) should be punished with 10 years in jail for match fixing and membership in an illegal organization;

Cemil Turan (Fenerbahçe official) should be punished for match fixing and membership in an illegal organization;

Ali Yıldırım (Fenerbahçe official, brother of Aziz Yıldırım) should be punished for match fixing and membership in an illegal organization;

Göksel Gümüşdağ (former Istanbul BB chairman) should be cleared of charges of match fixing and assisting the illegal organization.

İlhan Ekşioğlu (Fenerbahçe board member) should be punished with 11 to 30 years in jail for match fixing, paying incentives and membership in an illegal organization;

Şekip Mosturoğlu (Fenerbahçe board member) should be punished for match fixing and membership in an illegal organization;

Mehmet Yıldız (former Sivasspor player) should be punished with three years for match fixing;

Korcan Çelikay (former Sivasspor goalkeeper) should be punished with three years for match fixing;

İbrahim Akın (former Istanbul BB player) should be punished for two to seven years for match-fixing;

Sezer Öztürk (former Eskişehirspor player) should be punished for accepting incentives;

Ümit Karan (former Eskişehirspor player) should be punished for accepting incentives;

Zafer Önder İpek (former referee) should be punished for match fixing;

İskender Alın (Istanbul BB player) should be punished for accepting incentives and match fixing;

Sadri Şener (Trabzonspor chairman) should be punished for attempting to pay incentives to Sivasspor players before their Fenerbahçe game;

Tayfur Havutçu (former Beşiktaş coach) should be punished for match fixing;

Nevzat Şakar (Trabzonspor board member) should be cleared of charges of paying incentives;

Tamer Yelkovan (Fenerbahçe official) should be punished for match fixing;

Sercan Yıldırım (former Bursaspor player) should be punished for accepting incentives;

Serdal Adalı (former Beşiktaş board member) should be punished for match fixing;

Serdar Kulbilge (former Gençlerbirliği goalkeeper) should be punished for match fixing.
(Istanbul-Hürriyet Daily News)

Fenerbahçe signs Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt (C) poses with Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman (L) and board member Ali Yıldırım. AA photo

Fenerbahçe has signed Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt on a three-year contract from English giants Liverpool, according to a club announcement.

The Istanbul club reported yesterday that it had successfully concluded its talks with the Dutch marksman, who has spent six years with Liverpool.

According to Turkish media, Fenerbahçe will pay 1 million euros to Liverpool, as well as 7.5 million euros to Kuyt for three years.

Kuyt, who can either play up front or on the wing, is currently with the Netherlands, who are making their final preparations ahead of Euro 2012, which starts June 8.

Kuyt was a member of the Dutch side that lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final.

The 32-year-old had 51 goals in 207 games at Liverpool, where he was a runner-up in the 2007 Champions League, 2009 Premier League and 2012 FA Cup. The only trophy he enjoyed with the Reds was last season’s League Cup.

Kuyt was the top goal scorer in the Dutch League with 29 goals for Feyenoord in the 2004-05 season. (Istanbul-Hürriyet Daily News)

Re-elected as Fener’s chair, jailed Aziz Yıldırım reshapes board

Fener’sjailed chair Yıldırım makes major board reshuffle. Hürriyet Photo

Aziz Yıldırım had no competition winning the Fenerbahçe presidential elections, but the club’s jailed chairman makes a major reshuffling at the club board, leaving some influential figures out and adding some names close to the government

Fenerbahçe Chairman Aziz Yıldırım introduced a major shuffle when extending his term at the Istanbul sports club.

Yıldırım, who is jailed pending charges as part of an ongoing football match-fixing case, entered yesterday’s presidential elections as the only candidate and started a new three-year period as the Fenerbahçe chair. However, he made some crucial changes to the club board.

Six people, including influential figures such as vice chairman Nihat Özdemir, Ali Koç and Cihan Kamer, were left out of the board. İlhan Ekşioğlu and Şekip Mosturoğlu, who were banned from football for three years and one year respectively by the Turkish Football Federation for their involvement in match fixing, kept their seats on the board.

Hüseyin Ersan Topbaş, Ahmet Ketenci and Talat Yılmaz are three interesting figures among the fresh faces on the Fenerbahçe board.

The former two are openly close to the government, with Hüseyin Ersan Topbaş being the son of Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş, while Ahmet Ketenci is the brother of Sema Erdoğan, the wife of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son, Ahmet Burak Erdoğan.

Talat Yılmaz, the former head of the Turkish Red Crescent, is also on the Turkish Football Federation board. He also on Saturday controversially dismissed claims that the match-fixing case was plotted by the Fethullah Gülen Community, who was willing to take over the club. Many Fenerbahçe fans have championed the idea since July 2011, and staged protests with banners against the Gülen Community.

“Do not think about those claims about the [Gülen] community or the government,” Yılmaz said at the Fenerbahçe congress on Saturday. “Do not believe anything but the club’s website or television channel.”

Yıldırım has also repeatedly claimed the match-fixing case aimed to take over the club, but has never name checked the Gülen Community.

Özdemir and Koç were the two officials that stepped up to lead the club since Yıldırım was jailed in Metris Prison in early July.

Prominent Fenerbahçe fan groups have released several statements criticizing Özdemir over the last year for the vice chairman’s reluctance to support to those groups holding street protests and calling them “marginal groups.”

Koç, however, was arguably the most popular figure on the Fenerbahçe board after the “July 3 process,” for his statements against the Turkish Football Federation and UEFA for barring the club from play in last year’s Champions League.

Koç, who is a member of the one of Turkey’s wealthiest families, said he was the one who requested Yıldırım be left out of the new board, and cited “family reasons” for being left out.

Fans getting political for the first time

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ISTANBUL - Radikal

Most Fenerbahçe fans have been being politicized for the first time in their lives, due to the football match-fixing case. Fenerbahçe fans’ mounting anger exploded last week after the riots at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium when the team lost the title to archrival Galatasaray.

“There are many people that have never confronted people, for the first time they have challenged the system,” said one of the anonymous members from fan groups, Vamos Bien, Unifeb and CK, to the daily Radikal.

Fener fans have staged several street rallies since July 2011, when the club’s five officials, including president Aziz Yıldırım, were jailed pending charges, with the idea that the case was opened to take over the coveted chair of the club. Fethullah Gülen’s community plotting the case for taking over the club was a popular idea.

“We have not woken up just one day and said Gülen Community did it,” a fan said. “That perception was realized gradually, looking at who wrote what about that.”

(ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News)

Aziz Yıldırım to prevail in Fenerbahçe congress

Yıldırım will extend his post at Fenerbahçe for another three-year period, but he will not be able to make his victory speech. Hürriyet photo

Chairman Aziz Yıldırım, who is jailed pending match-fixing charges, goes into Fenerbahçe presidential elections as the only candidate. The Fenerbahçe congress is expected to issue important and dramatic messages of unity at the club

Fenerbahçe club members will complete their ballots on May 19 in an election that holds no surprises but promises lots of drama.

Chairman Aziz Yıldırım, who is currently jailed pending charges for alleged involvement in a match-fixing case, is the only candidate in the presidential election at the Turkish sports club. He will be voted in for his seventh term as Fener’s chair, but he will not be in attendance to give a victory speech as usual.

Yıldırım, arguably the most powerful man in Turkish football, has been in the Metris Prison since early July, on charges not only of attempting to manipulate games, but also of “forming and leading an unarmed crime organization aiming to gain financial income through match-fixing.” He is the number-two suspect in the ongoing match-fixing case, after former Giresunspor boss and alleged mob leader Olgun Peker, but he is definitely the most high-profile name in the case, which lists a total of 93 officials, players and coaches from more than a dozen football clubs. However, due to his power and the fact that he holds the coveted Fenerbahçe chair, the focus has been on Yıldırım since the case became public on July 3, 2011.

‘Not about match-fixing’

In several statements made through his lawyer, Yıldırım has repeatedly claimed that the case was “not about match-fixing” and instead was a plot to take over Fenerbahçe. The idea was championed by many Fenerbahçe fans, who took it to the streets several times, with the slogan “[The Gülen] Community cannot mess with Fener,” in reference to Fethullah Gülen’s Islamic community, whose secret agenda is believed to include taking over the Fenerbahçe board.

The head of Fenerbahçe’s Advisory Council, Yüksel Günay, has also said it is a secular team and that the club will not allow “religious sects” to influence it. “Fenerbahçe is a community of 23 million people committed to the Constitution of the Turkish Republic and the revolutions of [Republic founder Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk,” Günay said in a meeting of the club’s top brass in July 2011, just weeks after the arrests of Yıldırım and four club officials. “No sect can live in this club.”

“Fenerbahçe has had presidents, prime ministers generals and admirals, ministers and deputies as members of its congress,” Günay said. “Now a club like this is [accused of being] affiliated with crime.”
On May 19, there will be no other candidates aside from Yıldırım, because it was considered “not appropriate to run against Yıldırım in a situation like this,” as Ali Şen, a former chairman, put it. However, the congress is likely to issue messages of unity at the sports club.

If Yıldırım can complete his next three-year term, he will have spent 17 years as the club’s chair, making him the longest-serving chairman, breaking Şükrü Saracoğlu’s record.

Yıldırım is already the most successful leader at the club’s history. After winning the elections by a single vote in 1998, he has overseen a change in the club’s stature, moving the football team into a financially stable position, unlike its economically troubled rivals, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. Its five league titles were behind Galatasaray’s seven championships during that spell, but Yıldırım’s Fenerbahçe was the first Turkish team to make it to the Deloitte Money League with its earnings in 2009. He has also made some high-profile signings, including Roberto Carlos, Nicolas Anelka and Ariel Ortega.

Arguably Yıldırım’s greater successes have been in other areas, however, with the team becoming increasingly dominant in other sports such as basketball and volleyball. (Hürriyet Daily News)

Fenerbahçe ends cup drought, dedicates trophy to Yıldırım

Fenerbahçe players celebrate the team’s first Ziraat Turkish Cup victory in almost three decades.

Superstar Alex de Souza shines with one goal and three assists as Fenerbahçe beats Bursaspor to claim its first Ziraat Turkish Cup in 29 years. Alex dedicates the trophy to the club’s jailed chairman Aziz Yıldırım

Fenerbahçe managed to end the season on a high note after ending its long drought in the Ziraat Turkish Cup.

The Yellow Canaries clinched the Ziraat Turkish Cup with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Bursaspor at the 19 Mayıs Stadium in Ankara on May 16. The win meant Fenerbahçe won the domestic cup for the first time since 1983, putting an end to one of the most notorious droughts in Turkish football.

The win also came four days after Fenerbahçe lost the Spor Toto Super League title to archrival Galatasaray.

“We found some morale with ending 30 years of cup drought,” goalkeeper Volkan Demirel said. “I wish we could have made a trophy double but it was not meant to be. I congratulate Galatasaray again, and congratulate Bursaspor. I also congratulate my teammates.”

Fenerbahçe opened the scoring early in the game with winger Caner Erkin putting the ball to the net after getting a pass from Alex de Souza in only the second minute. Captain de Souza provided another assist in the dying seconds of the first half, when he dished out a pass to Cristian Baroni to double the lead for Fenerbahçe.

The Yellow Canaries closed the door in the 58th minute when forward Semih Şentürk struck the ball to the net, again after an assist by de Souza. After three assists, the Brazilian superstar capped a wonderful night for him by getting his name on the score sheet with a point in the 77th minute.

De Souza dedicated the trophy to the club’s jailed Chairman Aziz Yıldırım.

“Our chairman deserves this trophy, and so much more,” he said. “He has been deprived of his liberty for 10 months. It will be one year in two months’ time. I see it as a person from whom one year was stolen. He deserves this trophy more than anyone.”

Fenerbahçe spent the season under the cloud of a match-fixing case, which listed Yıldırım, along with four other club officials, as a top suspect. A total of 93 football club officials, players and coaches from around a dozen Turkish clubs were listed as suspects in the case, which started after the Istanbul police’s allegations that several games were manipulated in last season’s competition, when Fenerbahçe won the title.

Earlier this month, the Turkish Football Federation cleared 14 clubs, including Fenerbahçe, of match-fixing charges, but punished two officials from the club for attempting match-fixing. Yıldırım was also cleared, but he is still jailed pending charges in the criminal case.

“Aziz Yıldırım is the symbol of a troublesome season for the club,” de Souza said. “I think this club deserves better days.” (hurriyetdailynews)

Galatasaray handed over league trophy in the dark

DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

Galatasaray is crowned as the Spor Toto Super League champion more than three hours after the final whistle of a title decider derby game at Fenerbahçe’s Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium

Video cameras and flashes illumed a dark Şükrü Saraçoğlu pitch in the early hours of yesterday, as the newly-crowned Galatasaray received the championship trophy after the final game of the Spor Toto Super League.

The Istanbul club’s 18th league title came following a goalless draw at Fenerbahçe, which helped the visiting side grab the title in a season overshadowed by a major investigation into match-fixing allegations. Galatasaray players, coaches, executives and journalists spent more than three hours inside the stadium before the trophy ceremony, as police tried to disperse angry and devastated Fenerbahçe supporters.

The home fans hoped that a victory against Galatasaray, and hence the league title, would be the crowning glory of a season in which Fenerbahçe struggled with problems both on and off the pitch. Many of the club’s supporters and players said ahead of Saturday night’s game that they would dedicate the trophy to Fenerbahçe chairman Aziz Yıldırım, who is on trial under arrest for his alleged role in match fixing last season.

Despite losing the title, thousands of Fenerbahçe fans at Şükrü Saraçoğlu gave a standing ovation to their players, acknowledging the hard work they had put in throughout the season. But not all the fans were appreciative. Hundreds invaded the pitch after the final whistle, with many also trying to breach the security line to attack Galatasaray players.

Some fans managed to enter the corridors of the dressing rooms, where police had to use tear gas to disperse them. Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe players were thus trapped in their dressing rooms, while journalists could not leave the press conference room for hours. Hundreds of fans in the stands were also affected by the excessive pepper spray used by the police.

Following the incidents, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) offered to hand over the trophy to Galatasaray in the dressing room. However, the offer was rejected by Galatasaray Chairman Ünal Aysal and coach Fatih Terim. “The dressing room is not the place to receive the championship trophy,” Terim said in a televised interview. He also said Galatasaray could be considered two-times champion, as the club had both finished leader of the regular season and the playoff.

The team was given the trophy on the pitch three-and-a-half hours after the final whistle, reportedly following a phone call from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Istanbul governor, where he ordered the ceremony to be held.

However, the trophy had to be given to the winning side under the lights of reporters’ video cameras, since the lights of the Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium were no longer lit.

Galatasaray later travelled with the trophy to its facilities in Florya, where thousands of supporters had waited for hours to welcome the team. A brief celebration was held with the trophy in Florya, with the supporters cheering for coach Terim and players.

The club’s home stadium, the Türk Telekom Arena, was also set to host a major celebration last night to mark the end of the longer-than-usual season.

Angry Fenerbahçe supporters clash with police after the game

Hundreds of disappointed Fenerbahçe fans clashed with police following Saturday night’s title-deciding game. Fenerbahçe supporters threw stones at police, overturned trash bins and smashed shop windows around the Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium in Kadiköy.

Forty-seven Fenerbahçe fans were detained during the clashes according to a security source. While the suspects were in custody yesterday, the police were working on
videos and photographs to identify more perpetrators. More detentions could follow, said the same source.

Television footage showed Fenerbahçe fans overturning police cars in front of a gas station. One of the police cars was torched by the angry mob and the fire was later put out by the employees of the gas station. Clashes between Fenerbahçe supporters and the police initially began before the match started when police tried to disperse fans outside the stadium before the kick off. Clashes in the Mecidiyeköy district before the game between fans of Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray resulted in the injuries of four Fenerbahçe fans.

A 12-year-old Fenerbahçe fan was also reportedly stabbed in a quarrel on a metrobus line. Meanwhile, Hasan Yarış, a 46-year-old Galatasaray fan, who died of heart attack during the derby game, was laid to rest yesterday in the Aegean province of Denizli.

Prime minister angry about rioting fans
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said yesterday he was sorry to see the incidents that followed Saturday night’s championship derby game between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray.

The prime minister said that women and children were allowed to attend otherwise closed games to raise the standards of the fans. “But swearing continues even at those games,” he said.

“We thought the women would help the men improve, but they were no better than the men. “I’m a Fenerbahçe fan, but I congratulate Galatasaray. I condemn the mentality that promotes terrorism in the stands,” he said. (ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News)

Fener fans clash with police as Galatasaray wins championship

Hürriyet photo.

Galatasaray won the the Super League championship for the 18th time with a 0-0 draw at arch-rival Fenerbahçe's stadium at Istanbul's Kadıköy district, daily Hürriyet reported.

The game was marred by crowd trouble in and outside the stadium, and harsh police response.

Fenerbahçe fans occupied the pitch and clashed with police after Galatasaray' victory. Violence continued outside the stadium as well. Video footage showed at least two police cars turned over by rioting fans as police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Galatasaray fans filled the Taksim Square in Istanbul, as well as other central locations around Turkey to celebrate the championship. (hurriyetdailynews)

Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe ready for historic Super League final

Hürriyet Daily News photos, Emrah GÜREL

One of the most important nights in the rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe will take place on Saturday in the the title game of the Spor Toto Super League

Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe will play the grand finale of the Spor Toto Super League playoffs on Saturday, in one of the most important matches in their century-old rivalry.

The two Istanbul teams will take part in a winner-takes-all battle on Saturday, with the winning team going on to claim the league title. The trophy will go to Galatasaray in the event of a draw.

Galatasaray leads the Spor Toto Super League championship playoffs, or Super Final, with 47 points, just one point ahead of defending champion Fenerbahçe.

However, Fenerbahçe has reason to believe that it is closer to the title as the match will be played at their home Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. The Yellow Canaries have a clear advantage over Galatasaray at home.

Galatasaray last won in Kadıköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul, in 1999. The streak saw 10 consecutive losses in the last decade, but Galatasaray will draw hope from the fact that the last two derbies at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium ended in a draw.

Fener has momentum

Fenerbahçe comes into the game with some momentum. According to the newly-implemented playoff rules, Galatasaray saw its points halved at the end of the regular season. Before the start of the playoffs, Galatasaray had 77 points, nine more than Fenerbahçe. But it was not starting the playoffs with 39 points, to Fener’s 34, that put Galatasaray in their current perilous position – a poor playoff performance did.

After opening the post-season with a 2-0 win over Beşiktaş, Galatasaray had the chance to virtually end the title race on the second match-day of the Super Final, if they won over defending champion Fenerbahçe.

Galatasaray lost a game it largely dominated 2-1, and thus blew a chance to come into the last week without tension. Its erratic form continued with a goalless stalemate against Trabzonspor and a 2-2 draw against Beşiktaş. Had it won the two home games, Galatasaray could have taken this weekend’s derby as an exhibition match. But now it will have to fight for the title.

Nevertheless, leader Galatasaray still believes it has the edge. “We have the advantage against them,” Galatasaray’s right back Emmanuel Eboue said. “We will win the title even with a draw. So we need to be patient and play our own game.”

Ambitious Fenerbahçe has been fighting for the big victory all along. Starting the season under the fog of the match-fixing scandal, the Yellow Canaries took this season as one big opportunity to clear its name.

Rigging case woes

Five of the club’s officials, including chairman Aziz Yıldırım, are among the 93 Turkish football club officials, players and coaches that were listed as suspects in the case, which alleged that several games were manipulated in last season’s championship. The case shook the whole club, especially after it was barred from playing in the Champions League by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
Following the decision, Fenerbahçe had to sell several key players, including forward Mamadou Niang, defender Diego Lugano and winger Andre Santos, but the club continued fighting despite a weakened squad, taking the season into the last game.

There are worries that there could be crowd trouble in the game, even though no away fans will be allowed at the game. Fener goalkeeper Volkan Demirel warned that extremities of support can backfire for the team. “We’ve already showed that we are a team, regardless of the title. But we should know to congratulate our rivals if we cannot win,” Demirel said. “They should cheer for us, and they should pressure the rivals, but in a way not to put us under pressure.”

Fenerbahçe fans showed their interest in the title game by selling out the tickets in less than an hour earlier this week. However, the national media has reported that tickets are now being sold on the black-market for as high as 10,000 Turkish Liras.

On Friday, the TFF announced that it would award the trophy to the winning team at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. After 40 rounds of a tumultuous football season, the winner will be crowned on Saturday, hopefully bringing the chaos to an end. (hurriyetdailynews)

Aziz Yıldırım says Fener might quit league

Fenerbahçe chairman Aziz Yıldırım (C) has been jailed pending charges since July 2011.

Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yıldırım, who is jailed pending match-fixing charges, struck out at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) decision to ban two board members from the Istanbul club, saying that withdrawing from the league is in the cards.

Yıldırım, who is the highest-profile suspect in the ongoing match-fixing case and has been jailed pending charges since July 2011, released a statement following a three-year ban on board member İlhan Ekşioğlu and one-year ban on vice chairman Şekip Mosturoğlu for their involvement in match-fixing and attempts to manipulate games from last year’s Spor Toto Super League.

Ten players and officials were given one to three-year bans, but the clubs were cleared of charges.
“Those who think that they can give Aziz Yıldırım hush money by labeling two club members scapegoats and clearing Fenerbahçe, will be answered duly,” Yıldırım, who announced he would run for another term as Fener chair in the May 19 elections, said in a statement. “Those officials will take part in the new board as well.”

Yıldırım implied that they may consider withdrawing Fenerbahçe from the football league.

“The Fenerbahçe board may consider a few sanctions, including withdrawing from the contest, if similar unjust decisions are made,” he said.

Meanwhile, chairman Yıldırım’s lawyers yesterday applied to the Ministry of Justice for overturning his arrested status. (ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News)

Fenerbahçe drop case over Champions League ban

Chairman Aziz Yildirim, who is still in custody, denies the charges and says the case was specifically designed to undermine the 18-times domestic champions. Hürriyet photo.

Fenerbahce have dropped a court case against UEFA and the Turkish Football Federation over their exclusion from the Champions League due to a match-fixing investigation, the club said today.

Fenerbahce, the 2011 league champions, said in a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange they were dropping the case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but gave no further details.

Fenerbahce shares rose more than 5 percent after the announcement.

Fenerbahce were barred from the Champions League because of their alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal and the club's chairman is among 93 defendants, including leading soccer officials and players, being tried in a case that has cast a shadow over Turkey's multi-billion dollar league.

The team could be stripped of their domestic title, thrown out of Turkey's top league and forced to play in a lower division, penalties that could cost the club millions.

Chairman Aziz Yildirim, who is still in custody, denies the charges and says the case was specifically designed to undermine the 18-times domestic champions. (Reuters)

Fenerbahçe defeats Galatasaray 2-1 in playoff game

Fenerbahçe defeated bitter rival Galatasaray 2-1 in a game played at Galatasaray's Türk Telekom Arena in Istanbul yesterday.

The visitors closed the gap on leader Galatasaray to just two points with the victory. The Lions lead the four-team playoff with 42 points.

Fenerbahçe scored the first goal of the game through Reto Ziegler in the 17th minute. Galatasaray's Selçuk İnan answered with a free-kick goal in the 68th minute. The Lions subsequently had numerous chances to forge ahead but were hit on the break by Fenerbahçe substitute Miroslav Stoch in minute 79.

Galatasaray will visit Trabzonspor on April 28 while Fenerbahçe hosts Beşiktaş on April 29. (Hürriyet)

Fans clash in central Istanbul after derby match

Fans of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce clashed with each other in busy Taksim district of Istanbul. Fenerbahce beat Galatasaray 2-1 in the Sunday match...

The match of the Super Final took place at Galatasaray’s TT Arena Stadium on Sunday evening. The host was beaten by Fenerbahce 2-1 and added 3 points to its score. Fans of both teams clashed in Taksim area after the match.

The police made effort to ease both sides. Some Galatasaray fans were seen lighting torches in Taksim Square, despite their team’s defeat. (DHA)

Emre pleads innocent as pressure mounts

Trabzonspor files criminal complaint on Fenerbahçe midfielder Emre Belözoğlu following its Ivory Coast star Didier Zokora’s racism claims. Emre, however, insists he did not make racist remarks at Zokora

Emre Belözoğlu has tried to defend himself from allegations of racism, saying he never made it an issue when he has been subjected to racism, as the pressure on the Fenerbahçe midfielder grows.

The Turkish national football team player has come under severe criticism and is facing a ban after Trabzonspor’s Ivoirien midfielder Didier Zokora accused Fenerbahçe’s Belözoğlu of racially abusing him during the two teams’ Spor Toto Super League game on April 15.

Trabzonspor filed a complaint of racism with the Kadıköy Prosecutor’s Office yesterday under article 6222 of the Penal Code, which is also known as the Law on Violence and Disorder in Sports. Belözoğlu may face three months to one year of jail time if the prosecutor accepts opening a probe.

Trabzonspor’s complaint comes two days after the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee (PFDK) opened a probe into Zokora’s allegations.

Potential ban

If found guilty, he will be hit with a four- to eight-match ban, according to the Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) disciplinary ruling. The probe was opened provisionally, meaning that the midfielder will miss the weekend’s playoff game against Galatasaray even if the PFDK delays its decision to next week.

Former Inter Milan and Newcastle midfielder Belözoğlu continues to defend himself, rejecting the racism charges. “Myself, I have been subjected to racist slurs, like ‘the dirty Turk’ or words aimed at my Muslim beliefs, but I did not make them an issue, because they stayed on the pitch,” Belözoğlu said in yesterday’s edition of Turkish daily Hürriyet. Belözoğlu insisted he never said racist words to Zokora, adding that “he could take any ban on the chin, but not for things he did not commit.”

On April 15, the broadcaster showed footage of the two players embroiled in a heated exchange of words, and the movements of Belözoğlu’s lips appeared to confirm Zokora’s claims. In a phone interview on LigTV’s post-game show, Maraton, Belözoğlu confirmed that he “may have said” such words in a response to Zokora’s swear words.

Not the first time

However, Belözoğlu called a press conference the following day and denied admitting having said those words. “I was in a car when Şansal Büyüka [the host of the TV show “Maraton” TV] called me and asked if I had said those words, I did not fully understand what he said. I thought he was asking me whether I said swear words to Zokora and said, ‘yes.’ But I did not mean to confirm that I had racially abused Zokora,” Belözoğlu said.

That is not the first time Belözoğlu has been the central figure in a racial controversy, having previously been investigated in two separate cases of racial abuse before being cleared. Both cases occurred in 2007, when he was playing for Newcastle United. The first one involved a trio of Everton players, Tim Howard, Joleon Lescott and Joseph Yobo, while the second centered on Sierra
Leonean midfielder Al Bangura. k HDN (hurriyetdailynews)