The Turkish Football Federation has taken action against more than 1,000 players, including 27 from the top league, in response to a significant betting investigation involving alleged bets placed on matches. A total of 1,024 footballers have been implicated in the ongoing probe, and all individuals involved have been referred to the country’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK).
Among the affected players are those from reigning champions and current league leaders Galatasaray, with one player named Eren Elmali being implicated. Besiktas, Galatasaray’s Istanbul rivals, have also had two players referred to the PFDK, although the club has expressed confidence in the innocence of the players, who have not been publicly named.
Elmali admitted on Instagram that he placed a bet on a game unrelated to his team around five years ago, prior to joining Galatasaray this year. In light of the suspensions, matches in the third and fourth tiers of Turkish football have been postponed for the next two weeks, while games in the top two tiers will continue as scheduled. TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has characterized the situation as a “moral crisis” within Turkish football.
The TFF has requested FIFA to grant a 15-day extension for transfers and registrations during the winter window to allow clubs to address squad gaps resulting from the investigation. However, FIFA has not yet responded to this request. Local reports indicate that Turkish authorities have made eight arrests in connection with the probe, including a club chairman, with detention orders issued for 21 individuals, including 17 referees and two club presidents.
The investigation, spanning five years, has led to the banning of 149 officials. It has been revealed that out of 571 referees, 371 had gambling accounts, with 152 actively betting. Notably, one referee placed a staggering 18,227 bets. Three officials remain under scrutiny, and the TFF has confirmed that they may face penalties.
Former Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho, previously critical of refereeing standards, has called on media to address the issue. Join our new WhatsApp community for daily Mirror Football updates, promotions, and exclusive offers. Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, featuring over 1,400 live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL. Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League games per season, along with Formula 1, golf, and other sports content.