A scandal involving betting and match-fixing has affected more than 1,000 players, 149 referees and officials from Turkish football clubs.
On October 27, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced the results of an internal audit that revealed widespread illegal betting activity among referees, players and club officials. The federation is working with law enforcement to coordinate raids, arrests and player suspensions.
The TFF has already suspended 1,024 players across all divisions, including 27 from the Super Lig, pending disciplinary hearings. The Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) will review each case, including 47 players involved in only a single betting incident. This is a precautionary measure under Article 57 of the Football Disciplinary Regulations, which allows the federation to take interim action to protect the integrity of competitions while investigations are underway.
Among those detained are Murat Özkaya, president of the Super Lig club Eyüpspor, and Fatih Saraç, former owner of Kasımpaşa. Large-scale raids across 12 provinces led to at least 18 arrests, forming part of 21 detention warrants issued by prosecutors. In total, 149 referees, including 17 currently active officials, are also under investigation on charges of abuse of office and attempts to influence match results.
The scale of the scandal has placed enormous pressure on Turkish football. Mass player suspensions have left clubs struggling to field squads, while teams must respond to concerns from supporters and continue operating as normally as possible. Last week, the TFF confirmed it is negotiating with FIFA to secure a 15-day extension to the 2025/26 winter transfer window so that clubs can address squad shortages.
Similar measures were previously taken in other leagues, including the Premier League, which was granted an additional window for clubs participating in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
On November 10, the TFF confirmed that Super Lig and First League matches will continue as scheduled, while Second and Third League games have been postponed for two weeks. The federation warned that “the investigation will be expanded and continued.”
Clubs may face financial difficulties due to the loss of sponsors, reduced ticket revenue and rising legal costs. The reputation of the TFF will come under scrutiny as Turkey fights for a place at the 2026 World Cup. The country has also jointly applied with Italy to host Euro 2032.
Growing attention is being paid to sports betting worldwide: in recent months, similar allegations have surfaced in the NBA, UFC and MLB.
As betting becomes more widespread, clubs increasingly have to deal with investigations involving players and staff. Not long ago, West Ham United concluded the case against midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who was cleared by the Football Association in July 2025 of spot-fixing charges.
In Turkey, some clubs are simultaneously facing investigations involving several players and executives. At Beşiktaş, two footballers are currently under suspicion. The club issued a statement emphasising the need for a careful and sensitive approach.
“It is extremely important that the process related to this sensitive situation, which primarily concerns the personal rights of our footballers and their families, as well as the community to which they belong, proceeds with great care, taking into account the presumption of innocence, which is a universal legal norm,” the statement said.
Beşiktaş added that it will cooperate with the TFF, while the players themselves will file legal objections with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The club expressed its “full confidence in the innocence of both footballers.”
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