Istanbul, Turkey. A Turkish court has sentenced Fenerbahce Chairman Sadettin Saran to 2-1/2 years in prison for inciting illegal betting, days before the club was due to hold a congress to elect his replacement. The Istanbul court also sentenced his brother, Kenan Saran, to the same term.
Court ruling
The ruling said the two men were sentenced to two years and six months in jail for “inciting individuals to engage in illegal betting through advertising or various other means”.
Sadettin Saran denied any wrongdoing in his court defence, according to local media.
Club leadership change
Saran was briefly detained by authorities earlier this year as part of a broad investigation into drug use among Turkish celebrities, but was later released.
He later announced that he would step down from his position, and the club said in March that it would hold an extraordinary congress on June 6-7.
Wider investigations in Turkish football
Authorities in Turkey have carried out wide-ranging investigations into alleged match-fixing and illegal betting in the country’s professional football leagues.
Dozens of referees were suspended by the Turkish Football Federation, while several commentators, officials and players, including from top-tier clubs, were detained or arrested as part of the investigation.
Election contenders
Fenerbahce’s former chairman Aziz Yildirim has announced his candidacy to lead the club. He will run against businessman Hakan Safi as the Istanbul club seeks to end its 13-year championship drought. Saran is not running.
