Turkish football has been shaken by a sweeping betting scandal that has led to the suspension of 149 match officials and more than 1,000 players across multiple leagues. The unprecedented crackdown, launched by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) under its hardline president İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, aims to restore public confidence in a sport long plagued by allegations of corruption.
An internal investigation revealed that 371 of 571 active referees held betting accounts, with 152 actively gambling — including seven Süper Lig referees. Some officials reportedly placed thousands of bets, raising serious concerns about the integrity of officiating. Although referees claimed they were not betting on games they officiated, the findings deepened widespread suspicion among fans and clubs.
The TFF responded with sweeping disciplinary measures: suspending referees, launching an AI-enhanced VAR system, and opening a whistleblower hotline. Prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation, issuing detention orders for 21 people, including club executives. Eyüpspor chairman Murat Özkaya is among those arrested.
More than 1,000 players were referred for inquiry, and the TFF suspended over 100 professionals — including 25 Süper Lig players — for betting violations. Galatasaray defender Eren Elmalı received a 45-day suspension, while teammate Metehan Baltacı was banned for nine months. Lower divisions have been temporarily shut down as authorities deepen their investigation.
Hacıosmanoğlu vowed to “purge Turkish football of all its filth,” saying the sport cannot move forward without fully confronting match-fixing and illegal betting. If the reform effort succeeds, it could mark a turning point for Turkish football, shifting fan sentiment away from distrust and toward a renewed belief in fair competition.