Fenerbahçe President Saran Sentenced to 2 Years 6 Months in Prison

An important decision concerning Turkish sport was announced on Thursday. At the end of the case heard at the Istanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance, Fenerbahçe Sports Club President Sadettin Saran and his brother Alan Kenan Saran were each sentenced to 2 years 6 months in prison for the crime of "advertising or by various means encouraging people to play illegal betting". The court also imposed a judicial fine of 562,500 liras each on the two brothers. The Saran Group CEO Azade Zeynep Haksal and S Sport General Manager Emre Eren, who were also defendants in the same case, were acquitted. The decision has not yet become final; the appeal path is open.

The indictment had been prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. According to the indictment, it was determined that the advertisements of unlicensed betting sites were placed using virtual advertising techniques during football matches broadcast on the S Sport+ logo internet broadcasting platform under Saran İnternet Televizyon Yayıncılık A.Ş, owned by the Saran brothers. In the case, a lawsuit was filed against the suspects with the demand of 1 to 3 years in prison. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) was also included in the case as an intervener, and its representative demanded the punishment of the defendants at the hearing. The defendants' lawyers, on the other hand, requested the acquittal of their clients.

Sadettin Saran did not attend the hearing, while the lawyers of both parties were present in the hall. Due to the defendant's absence, the court panel could not take his final statement. Saran and his brother had rejected the accusations through their lawyers, and their defences included expressions such as: "Match broadcasts are obtained from contracted organisations or sports clubs. Within the scope of the contracts made, we are obliged to broadcast match broadcasts directly and without intervention; the broadcaster is not informed about the broadcast content." The court did not find this defence sufficient and ruled that the two brothers were responsible due to their managerial titles. Within the framework of the same responsibility distinction, professional managers Haksal and Eren were acquitted.

The timing of the decision is also notable for the Fenerbahçe community. At the Extraordinary Election General Assembly to be held on June 6-7, 2026, the club will determine its new president. Sadettin Saran had previously announced that he would not be a candidate in this election; in the presidential race, former president Aziz Yıldırım and former executive Hakan Safi will face each other. On Saturday, June 6, the opening, board election, moment of silence, National Anthem and discussion of the board of directors' activity reports will take place; on Sunday, June 7, the election of the presidency and the board of directors (principal and reserve) members will be held. How Saran's appeal process will proceed and whether his tenure will be brought to the agenda in the coming period are among the closely followed topics.

Sadettin Saran is a name known in the Turkish business world in media, telecommunications and sports broadcasting. The S Sport and S Sport+ brands under Saran Group are among the prominent players in international and local sports broadcasting. Saran was elected to the Fenerbahçe presidency in the election on September 2, 2024, and subsequently began to manage the club. The 2 years 6 months prison sentence he received is not at a level suitable for suspension under the Turkish Penal Code; however, the sentence does not become final until the appeal process is completed. The decision may change or be upheld at the Supreme Court stage. Whether the lawyers will take the decision to appeal will be clear in the coming days.

Image: dunya.com