Betting Scandal in Turkey Expands to Players
The Turkish betting investigation that began with referees has now reached players, marking a new phase in the country’s growing football scandal. Authorities have arrested eight individuals, including Eyupspor chairman Murat Özkaya, while the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 1,024 players across all divisions amid allegations of widespread betting activity.
Investigation Reaches Super Lig Clubs
What started as an inquiry into referee misconduct has expanded into a full-scale integrity crisis for Turkish football. On Monday, prosecutors confirmed the arrest of eight suspects, among them Murat Özkaya, chairman of top-flight club Eyupspor.
The TFF has referred 1,024 players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK) for investigation and suspended them from competition. Among them are 27 players from the Turkish Super Lig, including athletes from Galatasaray and Besiktas.
In its statement, the federation said it had asked FIFA for a temporary 15-day transfer and registration window so clubs could address squad shortages caused by the suspensions. Matches in the second and third divisions have been postponed for two weeks, and an extraordinary TFF board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
The ongoing inquiry highlights how deeply betting-related misconduct has penetrated all levels of Turkish football, from referees to club executives and players.
From Referee Betting to a National Crisis
Earlier this month, the TFF suspended 149 referees and assistants after an internal audit revealed that 371 of 571 active officials held betting accounts, with 152 actively gambling.
The scale of the problem shocked the football community, revealing that one referee had placed 18,227 bets, while 42 others wagered on more than 1,000 matches each.
- Check also: Referee Betting Scandal Hits Turkish Football
TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu called the escalating scandal “a moral crisis in Turkish football.”
“This is a moral crisis in Turkish football.”
He said, reaffirming his pledge to restore integrity to the sport. As authorities extend their investigation to players, the scandal is evolving into one of the most serious corruption cases in the history of Turkish football.
The federation continues to cooperate with law enforcement and FIFA, emphasizing that decisive action will be taken to rebuild public trust and safeguard the sport’s credibility.