Turkish Football Federation suspends over 1000 players in betting probe

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended more than 1000 players from its professional leagues amid a wide-ranging investigation into illegal betting activities.

In a statement, the TFF confirmed that 1024 players had been identified as having placed bets on football matches, a direct violation of both domestic and international regulations.

Among them are 27 players from Turkey’s top division, all of whom have been referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) for further action.

The fallout from the scandal has already begun to disrupt the football calendar. Matches in Turkey’s third and fourth tiers have been suspended for two weeks while the investigation continues, although fixtures in the Super Lig and second division will go ahead as planned.

The federation has also requested an extension to the winter transfer window, asking FIFA for an additional 15 days so that clubs facing sudden squad shortages can bring in replacements. FIFA has yet to issue a response to the request.

One of Turkey’s biggest clubs, Besiktas, confirmed that two of their players are among those referred to the disciplinary board but said in a statement that the club has “full faith” in the innocence of the individuals involved.

Local media outlets have reported that at least eight people, including a club chairman, have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation, which appears to be expanding rapidly.

The scandal first came to light on October 27, when TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu revealed that hundreds of referees across the Turkish football pyramid had been linked to betting accounts.

Haciosmanoglu claimed that out of 571 referees operating in Turkey’s professional leagues, 371 had registered betting accounts, and 152 were actively placing bets.

The list reportedly includes seven referees and 15 assistant referees from the country’s top two divisions, as well as 36 referees and 94 assistants from the level below.

Perhaps most alarming were the details about the volume of bets placed. According to Haciosmanoglu, 10 referees each placed more than 10,000 bets, while one individual is alleged to have placed 18,227 wagers.

Another 142 referees reportedly bet on over 1000 matches, while others were found to have placed only a single bet.

Under TFF, FIFA, and UEFA regulations, players, coaches, and referees are all strictly prohibited from participating in any form of gambling related to football.

The country’s prosecutors have since stepped in, issuing detention orders for 21 people, including 17 referees and two club presidents, as part of an escalating criminal probe into betting and potential match manipulation.

The TFF has vowed to take a firm stance as it works to restore credibility to the sport. “We will not allow the actions of a few to tarnish the reputation of Turkish football,” a federation spokesperson said earlier this week.