Turkish football is facing one of the most serious crises in recent decades after authorities in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for 46 individuals, including 29 professional players, in connection with widespread illegal betting on domestic matches.
According to the Istanbul prosecutor’s office, 27 of the players are suspected of placing wagers on games involving their own teams, with some allegedly betting on matches in which they were actively playing. The investigation has been unfolding since early November, when authorities detained 18 people amid claims that referees themselves had been betting on the matches they officiated.
Just a week before the latest arrests, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 match officials over similar allegations. Following disciplinary hearings, several referees received suspensions ranging from eight to twelve months for violating betting rules, and the federation confirmed that three officials remain under investigation. A broader review of 571 referees across Turkey’s professional leagues revealed that 371 had registered betting accounts, while 152 were found to have placed wagers.
High-profile players and officials have been implicated. Metehan Baltacı, a member of reigning champions Galatasaray, had already been handed a nine-month ban earlier in November. Fenerbahçe midfielder Mert Hakan Yandaş allegedly used a third-party account to place bets. The scandal initially drew public attention on 10 November, when six referees and the president of Eyüpspor a Super Lig team were taken into pre-trial detention.
Authorities report that 35 of the 46 individuals named in the arrest warrants have been detained, while five are believed to have fled the country. Among the accused are also two club presidents suspected of attempting to manipulate the outcome of a third-division match last season, an allegation that emerged after the fixture ended with neither side recording a single shot on goal.
The disciplinary measures already issued by the TFF affect more than 1,000 players nationwide, with 25 from the Super Lig alone. Most affected players, over 900, compete in the lower divisions. Sanctions vary widely, from short-term 45-day bans to suspensions lasting an entire season. Only one foreign player, Konyaspor’s Senegalese winger Alassane Ndao, has been sanctioned so far, receiving a twelve-month ban.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further penalties are expected as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the betting network operating within Turkish football. The scandal has raised serious concerns about the integrity of domestic competitions and could have lasting repercussions for the sport’s credibility in Turkey.
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