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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday addressed the widening betting and match-fixing scandal engulfing Turkish football, pledging to restore fairness and integrity to the sport and calling for a comprehensive cleanup across clubs, management, and players.
"The fact that individuals, from executives to players, are involved in such scandals, and that this is happening in our own country, is deeply disappointing," Erdogan said in response to the reporters' question about the case during his return flight from a visit to Turkmenistan.
"We stand for football’s noble and clean spirit," Erdogan said. "We will carry this struggle to the end, for the voices in the stands, the dreams of young people, and this nation’s longing for a clean sport."
The president’s remarks come amid a sweeping investigation by Turkish prosecutors and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) into illegal wagering that has rocked the country’s football leagues. The scandal, first disclosed by TFF President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoglu in late October, involves allegations of illegal betting by players, referees linked to gambling platforms, and manipulated match results for financial gain.
As part of the investigations being conducted by both the TFF and the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office, dozens of players, referees, and club officials have been detained or suspended over allegations of illegal betting, with over 1,000 individuals facing disciplinary review. Among them were Murat Ozkaya, president of Super Lig club Eyupspor, and players from two of the country’s leading clubs, Fenerbahce’s Mert Hakan Yandas and Galatasaray’s Metehan Baltaci, who were arrested on charges of attempting to manipulate match outcomes.
"Football’s soul is justice," Erdogan said, stressing that results devoid of fairness cannot satisfy anyone. "If we fail to establish justice, outcomes from the pitch will never be acceptable because they will be divorced from fairness."
Erdogan said football is not merely a sport for any single nation, but a global pastime followed by millions seeking entertainment and relief. "Football is a way for people across the world to unwind, with packed stadiums and millions watching on screens," he said.
He recalled following football since his youth and said he continues to watch matches regularly. "But these recent developments have truly saddened us," Erdogan said.
The president emphasized his confidence in Türkiye’s judicial system to adjudicate the matter impartially, saying that no one should be exempt from accountability, regardless of club or status. "Whether it comes from Club A or Club B, justice is extremely important for us," he said. "I believe that after the judicial mechanism works fairly, this will be established."
He also voiced confidence in the ongoing legal proceedings. "I believe that the judicial system is doing its job in the best way possible," he said. "And I believe once that process is completed fairly, this issue will be resolved."
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