Hundreds of Turkish Referees Caught in Massive Betting Scandal

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has announced that disciplinary proceedings will be initiated after a sweeping five-year investigation revealed widespread betting activity among match officials, including referees and assistants across the country’s top divisions.

According to TFF president İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, a total of 371 of Turkey’s 571 active referees were found to have betting accounts, with 152 of them allegedly placing bets on football matches, a direct breach of national and international regulations.

While some officials reportedly placed bets only once, others did so extensively. “Ten referees placed bets on more than 10,000 matches, one alone on 18,227 games,” Hacıosmanoğlu said at a press conference in Istanbul. In total, 42 officials are accused of betting on more than 1,000 matches each.

Hacıosmanoğlu confirmed that among those implicated are seven top-level referees and 15 assistant referees from the Turkish Super Lig and First League, along with 36 “classified” referees and 94 assistants from the lower tier.

“If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever dirt there is,” he said. “As a federation, we started by cleaning up our own backyard.”

The TFF president added that all individuals found in violation would be referred to the federation’s disciplinary board and “face the necessary penalties.”

Under TFF Disciplinary Regulations, referees and officials are prohibited from gambling on football, mirroring FIFA and UEFA codes of conduct. Sanctions under Turkish rules can include bans of up to one year, while FIFA’s Code of Ethics allows for suspensions of up to three years and fines reaching 100,000 Swiss francs (£94,246).

Hacıosmanoğlu described the findings as “both shocking and deeply saddening,” but insisted they could mark a turning point. “We know Turkish football needs a change,” he said. “Our duty is to elevate Turkish football to its rightful place and to purge it of all its filth.”

The revelations have drawn strong reactions from several of Turkey’s leading clubs. Beşiktaş said the findings “could mark a new beginning for clean football,” while Trabzonspor described the situation as “an historic opportunity to rebuild justice in Turkish football.”

“This is both shocking and deeply saddening for Turkish football,” added Fenerbahçe president Sadettin Saran. “But the fact that it is coming to light is a hopeful development.”

The TFF confirmed that disciplinary proceedings would begin immediately as part of its commitment to restoring integrity and trust in Turkish football.

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