Turkish authorities on Monday formally arrested eight people, including a top-tier club chairman, in a probe into alleged betting on football matches, while the football federation (TFF) suspended 1,024 players pending disciplinary investigations.
The moves come after the TFF earlier this month suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation found that the officials working in the country’s professional leagues were betting on football matches.
Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency (via Reuters) said a court had ruled to arrest Eyupspor Chairman Murat Ozkaya and seven others as part of the investigation.
In a statement, the TFF said it had sent 1,024 players from all leagues to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK) as part of the investigation, including 27 players from the top-tier Super Lig, who have all been suspended.
Among those 27 were players from champions Galatasaray and Istanbul rivals Besiktas, among others.
“Due to the precautionary transfer of 1,024 football players to the PFDK, negotiations have been initiated urgently with FIFA to grant a 15-day transfer and registration period in addition to the 2025-2026 winter transfer period, only at the national level, in order for clubs to complete their squad deficiencies,” the TFF said.
It also said matches in the second and third-tier leagues were suspended for two weeks, while local media said the TFF board would hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday.
TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has described the situation as a “moral crisis in Turkish football”.
Its own investigation revealed that 371 of 571 active referees in Turkey’s professional leagues had betting accounts, and 152 of them were actively gambling.
One referee had bet 18,227 times and 42 referees had bet on more than 1,000 football matches each. Others were found to have bet only once.
3 Comments
Hahahaha I keep calling this league tolotolo league..all of you thought I was mad… hahahaha only @sly saw reason with me the other day… hahahaha
Hahahaha thank God I am being vindicated gradually… hahahaha
Hahahaha this is the league y’all are celebrating osimhen for playing in… hahahaha
Hahahaha Some even say is better for osimhen to be a king here than to be something else that only them know of in places like england… hahahaha
Please someone should tell me what is kingly about this league?
Hahahaha
A league with hundreds of thousands of fraudsters and criminals influencing match outcomes and decisions…. hahahaha
Hahahaha Even though every league has its own but come on this tolotolo league own is overwhelming… too much..hahahaha
Hahahaha No wonder after just ten, eleven games you will see like 40 goal difference for the top team hahahaha
Heard osimhen is among those being investigated for gambling too..I told you all about that guy.. hahahaha
Please fifa or Turkish fa or whatever should just close this league hahahaha
When I saw 1 comment already, I knew immediately it was you, guy man lol.
Mou couldn’t contain his joy but credit to him, he caused this upheaval and that’s why he is my favorite coach yet.
The scandal is scandalous sha.
It’s criminal.
Credit to you too lol.
But really, 4 years is a long time for Osimhen to be in this league irrespective of the money.
Every move, record will be now treated with suspicion in the league in the coming weeks.
Lol. Thank you my brother @sly…
And credit to you too for sticking with the truth…