Turkey Expands Betting Investigation into Players, Coaches and Referees
Turkish media report that police will summon around 600 professional football players, coaches, and club executives for questioning next week as part of an ongoing probe into illegal iGaming activity.
Scale of the Case and Initial Detentions
According to investigators, players and club officials are suspected of using accounts and placing bets through illegal online operators based in Albania, Bulgaria, and Northern Cyprus. Authorities have issued detention orders for 21 individuals, including 17 referees, Eyupspor president Murat Ozkaya, and former Kasimpasa owner Turgay Ciner. Interpol has joined the investigation and completed the exchange of materials with Turkish police.
Main Figures Involved
- Referees — 17 currently detained
- Club executives — the Eyupspor president and former Kasimpasa owner
- Players and coaches — nearly 600 summoned for questioning
Revealing the Scope of Illegal Betting
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) stated that the probe began with referees after the federation president revealed that out of 571 active officials, 371 held accounts on online platforms and 152 actively placed bets.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Referees with accounts | 371 |
| Referees who placed bets | 152 |
| Players and coaches summoned | ≈600 |
| Detained individuals | 21 |
The TFF legal department referred 152 referees to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board, which issued suspensions of eight to twelve months for 149 of them. This marks one of the largest disciplinary actions in Turkish football.
Shift Toward a Match-Fixing Investigation
Prosecutors reclassified the case, citing “influencing match outcomes” in their charges. Legal experts say the involvement of club executives suggests a potential link between illegal betting activity and match manipulation.
Legal Experts’ Position
- Betting activity may be tied to attempts to influence match scores
- Evidence indicates a shift from platform violations to possible interference in games
- The investigation may extend to financial operations within clubs
Consequences for Clubs and Referees
According to the TFF disciplinary code:
- confirmed match fixing can result in relegation or a 12-point deduction for clubs
- referees may receive a lifetime ban
- completed matches are not replayed, but demoted clubs forfeit remaining fixtures
- there is no statute of limitations for match-fixing violations
Forty-five TFF officials have already resigned, and more departures are expected as the investigation progresses.