Turkish footballer released in FETO probe

By Halil Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - Footballer Bekir Irtegun, who was arrested in Istanbul on Friday as part of a probe into the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), was released on Saturday, according to a judicial source.

Irtegun was released after being questioned by the prosecutors, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions over speaking to the media.

He was banned from traveling abroad, the source added.

Irtegun played for popular Turkish clubs -- Gaziantepspor, Fenerbahce and Basaksehir -- in the recent past.

He was released from his former club Medipol Basaksehir on July 10, despite having another year in his contract.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and some 2,200 injured.

Turkey accuses FETO of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.