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Turkish prosecutors have opened a sweeping investigation into football referees accused of illegal gambling, following explosive allegations by the head of the country's football federation that more than 150 officials were actively betting on matches.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced Sunday that statements by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Haciosmanoglu about referees with betting accounts will be treated as a formal complaint in an ongoing investigation.
Haciosmanoglu claimed last week that 371 referees had betting accounts and that 152 were actively gambling, though he did not provide details on how the federation obtained this information.
The probe actually predates Haciosmanoglu's public comments. Prosecutors in Istanbul initiated proceedings in April after allegations surfaced that some referees officiating football matches were involved in betting activities. A separate investigation was later opened by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office following complaints from other referees against the Referee Committee (MHK). That case was transferred to Istanbul due to jurisdictional issues, and the two investigations have been merged.
In a statement, the prosecutor's office emphasized that illegal betting has become "an economic and sociological wound" in Turkish society and that authorities are conducting a "continuous and determined fight" against it.
"The statement made by TFF President İbrahim Haciosmanoglu's on October 27 regarding 'referees with betting accounts' is also accepted as a complaint regarding the ongoing investigation file," the prosecutor's statement said.
Authorities said they will work to identify the referees in question and investigate potential violations of multiple Turkish laws, including the Law on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports (Law No. 6222), the Sports Clubs and Sports Federations Law (Law No. 7405), and the Law on Organizing Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions (Law No. 7258).
"The current investigation will continue in greater depth," the statement added.
The announcement comes amid broader concerns about gambling's influence on Turkish sports, though prosecutors did not indicate whether any match-fixing allegations are part of the probe.
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