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The Turkish Football Federation announced Monday it has removed defender Eren Elmali from the national team squad after he was among more than 1,000 players referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board as part of an ongoing betting investigation.
The federation's legal counsel referred 1,024 footballers to the disciplinary board as a precautionary measure under Article 57 of the Football Disciplinary Instructions, the TFF said in a statement.
The investigation, which targets professional leagues, found evidence that the players had placed bets, according to the federation.
Following the mass referral, Türkiye made changes to its national team rosters across multiple age groups. In addition to Elmali's removal from the senior squad, Izzet Celik was dropped from the Under-21 team and Ege Albayrak from the Under-19 squad.
"As of today, the candidate squads of our A, Under-21 and Under-19 National Teams have been modified," the TFF statement said.
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Elmali, who plays for Galatasaray, issued a statement on social media Monday addressing his inclusion in the investigation. The 24-year-old said the case stems from a single betting transaction approximately five years ago on a match not involving his own team.
"I want to clearly state that the reason my name appears in this file is due to a bet placed about five years ago on a match unrelated to my own team," Elmalı said. "Since that day, I have neither placed bets nor had the slightest connection to this matter."
The defender emphasized his commitment to the sport's ethical standards. "Football is not just a profession for me, it is a passion at the center of my life," he said. "I have always lived this passion with honesty, hard work and the struggle I show on the field. Throughout my career, I have never behaved in any way contrary to football's ethical principles, sportsmanship or my club's values."
The disciplinary proceedings come as Turkish football authorities crack down on betting violations among professional players. The sheer number of players implicated marks one of the largest such investigations in Turkish football history.
The TFF did not provide details about the nature or extent of the alleged betting activities, nor did it specify whether the referrals could lead to suspensions or other sanctions pending the disciplinary board's review.
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