Turkey: Fenerbahce boss on football match-fix charge

The president of Turkish football league champions Fenerbahce has been remanded in custody and charged over alleged match-fixing.

Aziz Yildirim is one of 26 people, including other Fenerbahce executives, to face trial over as many as 19 allegedly manipulated matches.

Hundreds of Fenerbahce fans protested in support of Mr Yildirim.

Fenerbahce pipped Trabzonspor to the league title with a final day 4-3 win at Sivasspor.

Fenerbahce were a long way back in the league but the Istanbul club won 16 of their last 17 games to take their 18th title on goal difference.

Mr Yildirim has not commented publicly, but Fenerbahce issued a statement on Saturday saying: "We do not believe the accusations that have been made against the president and directors."

Fenerbahce vice-president Sekip Mosturoglu and financial chief Tamer Yelkovan have also been remanded to face trial, as have the chairman and goalkeeper of Sivasspor.

The Turkish football authorities say they will make a decision by Friday on the fate of Fenerbahce.

Friday is the deadline for notification to Uefa of Turkey's representatives in European club competitions.

Penalties could range from stripping Fenerbahce of the league title to relegating them.

Angry supporters took to the streets of Istanbul to back Mr Yildirim and there were scuffles outside the courtroom.

Police have arrested 61 people in the investigation - 35 have been released.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan - a former football player and a Fenerbahce supporter - has called for a swift conclusion to the investigation.