12 Jul 2011

New arrests in Turkey

6:13 am on 12 July 2011

Police in Turkey have made 22 arrests including the president of Champions League hopefuls Trabzonspor as part of a widening match-fixing probe.

The Anatolia news agency says the latest wave of arrests includes Mehmet Levent Kizil, the former executive committee member of the national football federation, and Ankaragucu teams' goalkeeper Serdar Kulbilge

Sadri Sener, whose club were runners-up in last season's Turkish championship, was detained in a series of early morning raids, only days after the president of the champions Fenerbahce was also arrested.

Police are investigating the outcome of 19 matches in Turkey's top two divisions last season which ended with Fenerbahce clinching the title on the final day by goal difference from Trabzonspor.

The inquiry and arrests have created shock waves among football supporters amid the prospect that Fenerbahce could be stripped of the title.