Turkish authorities have issued warrants for the apprehension of 21 people, which includes 17 referees and a Super Lig club president, in connection with an extensive inquiry into suspected football gambling and match manipulation, as reported by state media on Friday. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office states that 18 out of the 21 suspects have been taken into custody in operations conducted across 12 cities. The accused face various charges such as misuse of authority, match result tampering, and dissemination of false information on social media. Notable among those arrested are a club president from the top-tier division in Turkey, a former club owner, and a former association chief.
This development represents a significant escalation in a scandal that has recently shaken Turkish football. It follows shortly after the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees for engaging in football betting, a serious violation of both national and international football regulations. The TFF’s disciplinary board has imposed bans ranging from eight to 12 months on the implicated officials, with three additional cases currently under examination. The complete list of penalized officials has been made public on the federation’s official website.
The extent of the betting activities uncovered by the TFF has astonished football authorities and fans. The federation’s investigation spanning five years disclosed that out of Turkey’s 571 active referees, 371 had betting accounts, with 152 actively participating in gambling. While some referees placed only a few bets, 42 individuals wagered on over 1,000 matches each. Shockingly, one referee had placed a whopping 18,227 bets.
These revelations have prompted TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu to label it a “moral crisis” within Turkish football. He emphasized the absence of a solid structure and pinpointed an ethical deficiency as the fundamental issue within Turkish football. Haciosmanoglu dismissed claims that referees turned to betting due to financial struggles, stating that referee salaries were increased in the previous year and again in the current year. According to TFF, FIFA, and UEFA regulations, referees, akin to players and coaches, are strictly forbidden from engaging in any form of football-related betting.
The betting scandal has raised doubts about the credibility of Turkey’s national leagues and football governance, with authorities pledging to undertake all necessary legal and disciplinary actions to reinstate integrity in the sport.