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Turkish authorities detained 17 people, including Maruf Gunes, deputy chairman of four-time reigning champions Galatasaray, and senior Besiktas executives, in an investigation into alleged betting and match manipulation involving professional football clubs.
Prosecutors issued detention orders for 19 suspects after investigators reviewed betting records from 2020 to 2026 and identified individuals accused of placing bets while serving as club executives. Police carried out simultaneous raids across 10 provinces, with the operation centered on Istanbul.
Seventeen suspects were taken into custody, while authorities continue to search for two others.
The latest operation is another wave in a crackdown that erupted in late 2025, when the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees over betting activity and later referred 1,024 players for disciplinary action.
The investigation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and carried out by the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit, drew on data obtained from legal betting platforms operating in Türkiye.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced on X that investigators had uncovered significant findings related to alleged violations of Turkish sports law, which strictly prohibits betting-related match manipulation and illegal betting.
Authorities reviewed betting platform records alongside analyses by Türkiye's Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). The inquiry turned up findings involving executives at clubs competing in professional leagues affiliated with the TFF.
Investigators allege Galatasaray Deputy Chairman Gunes placed 48 betting slips involving either opponents of his club or goal-related wagers while serving as an executive.
Besiktas independent board member Tolga Kirgiz allegedly placed 1,488 such betting slips during his tenure, while fellow independent board member Kerem Gurel was linked to 996, according to the investigation.
Besiktas congress member Ahmet Akcelik was also among those targeted. Authorities allege he placed 53 betting slips involving opponents of his club or goal-related bets while serving as an executive.
The investigation also covers figures connected to Boluspor, Erzurumspor, Genclerbirligi, Karaman Futbol Kulubu, Adana Demirspor, Adanaspor, Altay, Altinordu, Balikesirspor and Bandirmaspor.
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