The Turkish Football Federation has taken action against more than 1,000 players, including 27 from the top division, in connection with a significant betting investigation involving alleged wagers on matches. In total, 1,024 footballers have been implicated in an ongoing probe, with all individuals involved referred to the country’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK).
Among those affected are reigning champions and current league leaders Galatasaray, whose player Eren Elmali admitted to placing a bet on a game unrelated to his team five years ago. Additionally, two players from Istanbul rivals Besiktas have been reported to the PFDK, although the club expresses confidence in their innocence.
As a result of the suspensions, matches in the third and fourth tiers of Turkish football have been postponed for the next two weeks, while games in the top two tiers will continue as scheduled. Turkish Football Federation (TFF) president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has characterized the situation as a “moral crisis” and emphasized the need to cleanse Turkish football of wrongdoing.
In response to the investigation, the TFF has requested FIFA to grant a 15-day extension for transfers and registrations in the upcoming winter window to enable clubs to address squad gaps resulting from the probe. Turkish authorities have made eight arrests, including that of a club chairman, with detention orders issued for 21 individuals, including referees and club officials.
The investigation, ongoing for five years, has already led to the banning of 149 officials. It has been reported that a significant number of referees had gambling accounts, with one referee placing over 18,000 bets. The TFF confirms that three officials are still under scrutiny and may face penalties.
Former Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho, a vocal critic of refereeing standards in the past, has called on the media to address the betting scandal, although there is no indication that his team was involved. Furthermore, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include various streaming services and sports coverage, offering viewers an extensive range of content across multiple platforms.