Yildirim vows to fight match-fixing allegations

Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim has vowed to continue fighting the match-fixing allegations surrounding the club.

Thousands of fans gathered in Istanbul on Sunday to protest the continued incarceration of the 51-year-old, who issued a message to supporters through his lawyer promising that the scandal would not sink the Turkish giants.

“We will confute all the allegations directed at us. Those who mastermind this operation and see it as an opportunity to finish of Fenerbahce will fail,” Yildirim’s statement read.

“The memory of this probe will be how you embraced (this) club and our great love for the yellow-and-blue jersey.”

“Your support helps us forget our problems and even illnesses.”

Among those at the protest was head coach Aykut Kocaman, who was eager to emphasise that he was not attending in any official capacity.

“I’m not here as the football team’s coach, I’m here as a member of the Fenerbahce family,” Kocaman said.

Yildirim’s trial on the charges of organising a criminal gang starts on February 14.