Newsletters
Fenerbahce has confirmed that midfielder Mert Hakan Yandas has been released from detention following a court hearing in Türkiye, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged betting-related activities in football.
The decision came after a hearing at the Istanbul 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance, where both Yandas and fellow defendant Ersen Dikmen were ordered to be released pending trial.
Club president Sadettin Saran, who attended the hearing at the Istanbul Caglayan Courthouse, briefly told A Spor that they were “happy,” while football branch official Ertan Torunogullari said the club felt “very happy” and expressed hope that the team captain would return to training at the Samandira facilities the next day.
In a statement shared on its official social media accounts, the club confirmed that the court had ruled in favor of releasing all detained defendants in the case and noted that several senior figures, including former president Ali Koc and head coach Domenico Tedesco, had followed the hearing in person. Supporters also gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the session to show their backing.
The case stems from a broader investigation into alleged irregularities in sports betting, which refers to wagering on the outcome of sporting events, a regulated activity in Türkiye.
According to the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, authorities identified accounts linked to betting platforms such as Misli, Nesine and Bilyoner. Investigators stated that Yandas had a registered account on a legal betting platform dating back several years, while later activity was allegedly carried out through Dikmen.
Financial records cited in the case point to multiple money transfers between the two defendants over several years, with funds subsequently directed toward betting platforms. Prosecutors argue that the actions caused financial harm to the authorized company responsible for organizing sports betting in Türkiye.
As a result, both defendants face charges including “qualified fraud” and “match-fixing and incentive payments,” with prison sentences ranging from four to 13 years requested in the indictment.
During his defense, Yandas denied all allegations and said he had never been a member of illegal betting platforms, emphasizing his loyalty to Fenerbahce.
In a notable statement, he said: “I want you to know how much I love Fenerbahce and that I would never harm the club,” while also arguing that the case had been distorted through partial disclosures and amounted to a reputational attack.
He added that conversations presented in the case did not include any reference to Fenerbahce matches and maintained that he had always played to win every game.
Dikmen, for his part, said he had only participated in legal betting activities and insisted that he would never place bets against Fenerbahce, describing the club as central to his life.
1 min read
After hearing the defenses, the prosecutor requested the release of both defendants, a position the court ultimately accepted in its interim ruling.
With the release decision now in place, the legal process will continue, while Fenerbahce signals that its captain may soon return to training in Türkiye.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
