Gökdeniz ban after betting scandal

Player confession
The 25-year-old Gökdeniz confessed he had tried to influence the score of a match between Akçaabat Sebatspor and Kayserispor on 9 April 2005. He said: "We tried to set it so that the first half of the game would end with Sebatspor leading, with Kayserispor making a comeback in the second half." The match actually finished 0-0.

Ban reduced
The Turkish Football Association's disciplinary body took into account the player’s regret and full confession and cut an original 15-month ban and fine of €57,000 to ten months, backdated to 8 September, and €38,000. Gökdeniz has played 176 league games for Trabonzpor since joining in 1998, having been capped 27 times by his country.

'Heavy punishment'
Trabzonspor president Atay Aktug said: "We really did not expect such a heavy punishment. Gökdeniz is one of the most important international players in Turkey. People can make mistakes."

Four others banned
Four other players have been banned and fined €10,000 each because of their involvement. Former Sebatspor players Ogün Temizkanoğlu and Bayram Toysal have been banned for 12 months. Ali Şen Kandil, who was on loan at Sebatspor from Trabzonspor last season, has an eight-month ban while Kayserispor goalkeeper Metin Aktas has been banned for a year. All will run from 17 August.