Turkish authorities formally arrested eight people, including a top-tier club chairman, on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged football matches. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has also suspended 1,024 players pending a disciplinary investigation.
The TFF suspended 149 referees and assistant referees earlier this month, after a public scandal found officials working in the country’s professional leagues were betting on football matches.
Turkey’s ADLen reported to A-Newsolu News Agency that a court has arrested the chairman of Eyupspor, Murat Ozkaya, and seven others as part of the investigation. Eyupspor, which plays in the Top-Tier Turkish Super Lig, was not immediately available for comment.
In a statement, the TFF said it had sent 1,024 players from all leagues to the professional disciplinary council (PFDK) as part of the investigation, including 27 players from the Super Lig, who were suspended. Among the 27 are players from Champions Galatasaray and Istanbul Rivals Besiktas, among others.
“In order to prioritize the transfer of 1,024 football players in the PFDK, negotiations have been initiated in the 1525-2026 winter transfer season, to complete the winter transfer level,”
It also said that matches in the second and third tier leagues have been suspended for two weeks, while local media said the TFF board will hold an extraordinary meeting at 2pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
Football’s world governing body, FIFA, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the investigation and the TFF’s request for a 15-day transfer window.
The TFF President, Ibrahim HaciosmanogluGlu described the situation as a “moral crisis in Turkish Football”. Its own investigation revealed that 371 out of 571 active referees in the Turkish professional league have betting accounts, and 152 of them actively gamble.
One referee placed bets 18,227 times and 42 referees bet over 1,000 football matches each. Some find you’re just betting.