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The Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) on Thursday announced disciplinary action against 102 players following an investigation into illegal betting activities involving more than 1,000 athletes.
According to the TFF, the sanctioned players received bans ranging from 45 days to 12 months for allegedly placing bets, including several active Super Lig players.
Galatasaray’s Metehan Baltaci was handed a 9-month ban, while teammate Eren Elmali received a 45-day suspension. Konyaspor’s Alassane Ndao, the only foreign player sanctioned, was suspended for 12 months.
Other Super Lig players penalized include:
The probe stems from remarks made by TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu in late October, when he alleged that hundreds of referees held betting accounts. The revelations triggered a sweeping disciplinary and criminal investigation.
The PFDK subsequently suspended 149 referees for between eight and 12 months. Prosecutors have also issued detention orders for 21 individuals, including Eyupspor President Murat Ozkaya and former Kasimpasa SK Chairman Fatih Sarac. Eight suspects, including Ozkaya, remain in custody.
The federation confirmed that 27 active Super Lig players remain under investigation, including players from Besiktas and Galatasaray. Some players claim their personal data was misused to place bets and have denied any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said this week that it is in contact with the TFF and is closely monitoring the developments surrounding the scandal.
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