Turkish Soccer Match-Fixing Scandal May See 5-6 Teams Relegated

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) may relegate five to six teams from country’s top soccer league, pending the results of a probe into alleged match-fixing, reports in Turkey state.

The league will start with all 18 teams in competition according to comments by TFF Chairman Mehmet Ali Aydinlar after a summit in Istanbul with club owners. The federation said it may also relegate six to seven teams from the lower division depending on the investigation results.

The TFF has authority to promote teams to the top league, Aydinlar said during the press conference. Teams that made the play-offs to compete in the top league may be moved up.

Yildirim Demiroren, chairman of cup-winner Besiktas JK which is alleged to have participated in match-fixing along with league champion Fenerbahce SK, criticised the TFF for trying to resolve the matter within 15 to 20 days and said his club is ready to wait for the judiciary’s decision on the investigation.