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A second wave of raids linked to illegal betting allegations has hit Turkish football, with police detaining a wide range of high-profile figures, including serving club presidents, players and former referees.
Among those taken into custody are Fenerbahce midfielder Mert Hakan Yandas, Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltaci and former referee and television pundit Ahmet Cakar, according to information shared by Ekol TV’s special news editor Dilek Yaman Demir.
Authorities say the latest operation is part of an expanding investigation into what they describe as illegal betting networks and attempts to influence match results in Türkiye.
According to information relayed by Ekol TV, Istanbul prosecutors ordered a broad operation in the early hours of Friday that specifically targeted what they see as the upper levels of Turkish football.
Police reportedly moved against a large group of suspects, including presidents of clubs competing in different divisions, club executives, player agents and professional footballers.
Officials state that the suspects are believed to have links to illegal betting activities and are accused of trying to affect the outcome of matches. Within this group, the detentions of Yandas of Fenerbahce, Baltaci of Galatasaray and outspoken former referee and commentator Cakar have drawn particular attention, as this hints at how the investigation has moved well beyond match officials.
For international readers, the allegations center on “illegal betting,” meaning betting activity that investigators say operates outside the official, regulated framework and is therefore prohibited.
The current investigation formally began after a public statement from the then-president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, on 27 October 2025.
In that statement, which was later treated as a criminal complaint by prosecutors, he said that “371 referees were found to have betting accounts, and 152 were identified as actively placing bets.”
Following this declaration, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal probe. In the first phase, law-enforcement teams carried out search, seizure, and detention measures against 21 people, most of whom were referees. At the end of that stage, eight suspects, including the president of Eyupspor, were arrested and placed in pre-trial detention.
In parallel with the criminal investigation, the TFF’s disciplinary bodies also began to move. The federation’s disciplinary board imposed bans ranging from eight to twelve months on 149 referees after what it described as an initial round of findings linked to betting-related violations.
As the criminal case progressed, the TFF expanded its internal investigation. After looking first at referees and club officials, the federation turned its attention to players. It announced that 1,024 footballers identified in the betting probe had been referred, under precautionary measures, to its Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK).
The PFDK is the TFF’s disciplinary organ, responsible for ruling on violations of sporting regulations in Turkish professional football. The federation stated that, in earlier stages of the case, disciplinary proceedings had already been completed for 102 players, who received suspensions ranging from 45 days to 12 months.
As the investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office continues alongside the TFF’s disciplinary proceedings, attention is now fixed on how the courts and football authorities will respond to the latest findings and what this will mean for the credibility and governance of the sport in the country.
In a written statement issued on Friday, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced new details on the second phase of the nationwide illegal betting investigation. Prosecutors said that data obtained from MASAK and the Professional Football Disciplinary Board led to disciplinary action against 101 players, along with the identification of 27 footballers — including Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltaci — who allegedly placed bets on their own club’s matches.
The statement also noted that Fenerbahce midfielder Mert Hakan Yandas was identified for allegedly placing bets through another individual. In addition, prosecutors reported that investigations into match-fixing suspicions related to fixtures involving Ankaraspor, Nazilli Belediyespor and Umraniyespor led to further detentions. Following the examination of bank records, seven additional suspects were taken into custody, including former Adanademirspor president Murat Sancak and former referee and commentator Ahmet Cakar.
A total of 35 suspects were detained during simultaneous operations carried out across 16 districts in Istanbul, while five others are believed to be abroad. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing “with precision and determination.”
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