By Daren Butler
ISTANBUL, Sept 15 - Ankaraspor were demoted to the
Turkish second division on Tuesday over the club's links to top
flight rivals Ankaragucu, which the country's football
authorities said were anti-competitive.
A probe was launched last week into the relationship between
the two clubs from the country's capital after the son of the
city's mayor was appointed chairman of Ankaragucu.
The mayor is honorary chairman of Ankaraspor and the move
fuelled speculation about a bid to merge the two clubs. The
Turkish Football Federation ordered the process be halted.
"The Professional Football Disciplinary Committee (PFDK)
decided to relegate Ankaraspor by one division over its
relationship with Ankaragucu... ruling that it was contrary to
sporting competitiveness," the PFDK ruling said.
The chairmen of Ankaraspor and Ankaragucu were suspended
from their duties for six months. Ankaragucu were not relegated
but the club's board members were suspended for three months.
Last weekend's match between Ankaraspor and Kayserispor was
postponed because of the investigation.
Ankaraspor and Ankaragucu were 14th and 15th respectively in
the Turkish championship before Tuesday's ruling.
(Writing by Daren Butler, Editing by Ken Ferris
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