- According to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), the probe identified 371 out of 571 active referees with registered betting accounts. Even more alarming, 152 of them were actively placing bets, with some making thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—of wagers over several years.
Among the referees facing disciplinary action are seven top-division main referees and 15 assistant referees, raising questions about how deeply the betting culture may have infiltrated the highest levels of Turkish football.
Shocking Numbers Revealed
- • An internal TFF investigation found that 371 out of 571 active referees in professional Turkish leagues have betting accounts, according to TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu.
- • Even more alarming: 152 of those referees were actively placing bets.
- • Among the implicated officials are:
- • 7 top-level main referees
- • 15 top-tier assistant referees
- • Many more from lower or regional divisions.
- Mass Suspensions and Rising Tensions
- The TFF has suspended 149 referees, issuing bans ranging from eight to twelve months, while additional officials remain under scrutiny. The disciplinary actions were carried out under Article 57 of the federation’s ethics code, which prohibits referees from participating in any form of betting.
- TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu called the scandal a “complete betrayal of the profession,”
- stating: “Refereeing is a position of honour. Anyone who tarnishes that honour will not set foot on our fields again.”
- Criminal Investigation Expands
- The scandal has moved beyond sports governance and into the hands of national prosecutors. Legal authorities have issued detention warrants for 21 individuals, including 17 referees and a football club president. The charges under review include:
- • Illegal betting
- • Abuse of office
- • Potential influence over match outcomes
- While no official allegations of match-fixing have been confirmed, investigators are analyzing betting patterns, referee appointments, and match histories to determine whether certain games may have been compromised.
- Devices, betting records, and financial documents have been seized for forensic examination.
- A Defining Moment for Turkey’s Football Future
- As investigations continue and more details emerge, the scandal stands as a defining moment for Turkish football. With hundreds of officials implicated, public trust shaken, and new questions about match integrity, the sport’s governing bodies now face significant pressure to restore transparency, discipline, and credibility.