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Türkiye’s ongoing illegal betting investigation in football is reportedly set to widen, with nearly 600 professional players expected to be called to testify in the coming week, according to local media reports.
The widening probe follows a major disciplinary wave targeting referees, as Türkiye’s Football Federation (TFF) suspended dozens of officials found to have engaged in online betting.
The scandal has now drawn the attention of Interpol, the international criminal police organization, which has shared related findings with Turkish law enforcement, Türkiye daily reported.
Reports suggest that several players, coaches, and club executives are suspected of placing bets through illegal gambling websites based in countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, and Northern Cyprus.
The transactions are alleged to have occurred outside Türkiye’s regulated betting system, raising concerns about potential match-fixing links.
The investigation initially focused on referees after TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu revealed in a press conference in late October that 371 out of 571 active referees had registered betting accounts, and 152 were found to have actively placed bets.
The TFF’s legal department referred these 152 officials to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board, which imposed bans ranging from eight to twelve months on 149 referees, marking one of the most extensive disciplinary actions in Turkish football history.
If the Arbitration Board upholds the sanctions, many of the penalized referees could see their careers end permanently.
The scandal has already led to multiple resignations within the TFF, with reports indicating that 45 officials have stepped down amid internal reviews and mounting public scrutiny. Federation sources have suggested that further departures could follow as investigations deepen, the report suggested.
Following the revelation that 152 referees had actively engaged in betting, authorities this week issued detention orders for 21 individuals, including 17 referees, as well as Super Lig club Eyupspor President Murat Ozkaya, former Kasimpasa owner Turgay Ciner, and Fatih Sarac, who led the club until a trustee was appointed in 2022.
Legal experts speaking to DW Turkish said the investigation is evolving into a match-fixing case, with prosecutors citing "influencing match results" in their official statement. Sports lawyer Mert Yasar noted that the inclusion of club executives indicates a shift from simple betting violations to a broader manipulation probe.
Under TFF disciplinary regulations, if club officials are found guilty of match-fixing, their teams could face relegation, while referees could receive lifetime bans. Matches already completed will not have their results altered, but any demoted clubs would forfeit all remaining fixtures this season.
Another sports law expert, Osman Buldan, suggested that while leagues are unlikely to be suspended, the inquiry could expand further as investigators determine whether financial gains were made through match manipulation.
According to the TFF’s Disciplinary Code, betting-related offenses carry penalties of up to one year of suspension, whereas match-fixing results in permanent disqualification for individuals and automatic relegation or 12-point deductions for clubs.
The code also stipulates that no statute of limitations applies to match-fixing offenses, and UEFA retains the right to intervene if it deems the national investigation insufficient.
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