Mr.

Yildirims comparison stands on strong ground despite the fact that most experts on Turkish soccer as well as fans, including those of Fenerbahce, concede that Turkish football is thoroughly corrupt and that match fixing is a fact of life. Mr. Yildirim was sentenced to six years and three months in prison and is barred from serving as a club official. He has one last chance to appeal which would allow him to remain in office until he has exhausted his options. In a statement following the court decision, Mr. Yildirim suggested the verdict was part of a power struggle between Mr. Erdogan and Fethullalh Gulen, the prime ministers Islamist allyturned-nemesis. Mr. Erdogan has accused Mr. Gulen, a self-exile Islamist preacher who operates a global media, education and business empires estimated to be worth $20 billion, of establishing a state within the state. Mr. Gulen initially supported Mr. Erdogans rise to power and worked with him to bring the powerful Turkish military under civilian control. The two mens political and commercial power base is inextricably intertwined but their interests have over time diverged as Mr. Gulen targeted urban conservatives while Mr. Erdogan strengthened his hold on the rural vote. In a prelude to the construction scandal, Mr. Erdogan attempted last fall to curb Mr. Gulens influence by announcing that he would shut down tutoring schools operated by the preachers movement.