Turkish football is going through another turbulent period. Barely recovered from the match-fixing scandal, the country is now rocked by a legal case of a completely different nature involving one of its most iconic clubs. Sadettin Saran, president of Fenerbahçe, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Istanbul as part of an investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking operation.

The 61-year-old manager of the Istanbul club was arrested on the orders of the Istanbul prosecutor's office. In an official statement, the judicial authorities cited serious charges: "drug trafficking, incitement to drug use, and use of illicit substances." This decision reportedly follows the analysis of "new evidence" gathered during the ongoing investigation.

According to several reliable sources, Sadettin Saran is expected to appear before an Istanbul court on Thursday morning for a hearing regarding his legal situation. As of now, no official statement has been issued by the club or Saran's representatives.

This affair casts a shadow over Fenerbahçe, currently second in the league behind Galatasaray, and risks having significant sporting and institutional repercussions. The club, one of the most popular in Turkey, also boasts young African talents in its ranks, including the Senegalese prospects Amara Diouf and Abdou Aziz Fall.

As the investigation continues, Turkish football holds its breath in the face of a new scandal that could permanently tarnish its image on the international stage.