EMENIKE DETAINED IN MATCH-FIXING SCANDAL

Emmanuel Emenike
Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike, who recently moved from Karabukspor to Fenerbahce, has been detained over match-fixing allegations in the Turkish league, Anatolia News Agency reported on Sunday.

Police were reportedly investigating alleged match-fixing in the Turkish Super League, which ended in May with Fenerbahce emerging as champions, and the League One.

At least 40 other people, including Turkish league champions Fenerbahce Chairman Aziz Yildirim and officials and players from other clubs, were detained as part of a police operation launched in a number of Turkish provinces. The detainees were brought to the Istanbul Police Department for interrogation

Emenike did not play in last season's Karabükspor's 1-0 home defeat to Fenerbahce on May 8, just two games to the end of the season, with complaints of injuries. The striker, who returned to Turkey last week after his holiday in Nigeria, was detained by the country's police on Sunday.

The former South Africa based player, who joined Fenergahce in a $9m deal, played the Karabukspor's first fixture against Fenerbahce on December 5 and scored Karabukspor's lone goal as they lost 2-1.

Emenike tore his knee ligaments in February on duty for Nigeria and was ruled out for six weeks. He eventually returned to action on April 9 as a 51st minute substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Bucaspor although he missed the season's last three games to Fenerbahce, Trabzonspor and Antalyaspor. His involvement in the saga is not yet clear.

A statement from Fenerbahce said, 'Never in the history of our club, which is full of honours won, have we been implicated in any illegal acts and we never will be.'

The match-fixing investigation led to many arrests last year but this was the first time such high-level officials have been taken into custody.

In April, Turkey introduced tough legislation to battle hooliganism and cheating in football, including a maximum 12-year prison sentence for match-fixing.