Published on: November 12, 2025, 03:02h.
Updated on: November 12, 2025, 03:02h.
- Massive Betting Violations Lead to Major Suspensions in Turkish Football
- Referees Caught Betting, Prompting National Investigations
- TFF Pledges Stringent Reforms, Including Lifetime Bans for Offenders
The unfolding scandal within Turkish soccer intensified on Monday as the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) disclosed that 1,024 players have faced suspension due to betting infractions.
This includes 27 players from the Super Lig, Turkey’s premier league, with two players from the current champions, Besiktas.
Elmani in the Spotlight
One of the most notable suspended players is Eren Elmali, a defender for Galatasaray, who has made four appearances in the Champions League this season for Turkey.
“I want to clarify that the reason my name is associated with this matter stems from a bet placed on a match involving my previous team without my knowledge or consent,” Elmali expressed on Instagram. “Since that incident, I have had no ties to betting or this controversy.”
Several additional players have also defended their positions, claiming accounts were created in their names without their consent.
Betting Referees
This announcement follows last week’s report that 149 referees were suspended for engaging in betting on matches, contravening TFF, UEFA, and FIFA regulations. Three additional referees are still under investigation.
The TFF discovered that at least 10 referees had placed over 10,000 bets each, with one individual making an astonishing 18,227 bets.
Of those, seven referees and 15 assistant referees who placed bets were officiating in Turkey’s top two leagues, some even betting on games they were officiating, according to the TFF.
On Friday, Reuters reported that Turkish authorities had issued detainment orders for 21 individuals, including 17 referees and a club chairman.
Currently, players and referees are not being accused of match-fixing, although an inquiry into potential game manipulation by the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office has been ongoing since April.
Should match-fixing be substantiated, offenders may face prison sentences ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 years, along with lifetime bans from participating in the sport.
‘Clean Up the Mess’
In related developments, TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoglu declared the necessity to eliminate corruption. “Our mission is to uplift Turkish soccer to its rightful standard and rid it of all its impurities,” he stated at a press conference two weeks ago.
The sole legal sports-betting provider in Turkey is the government-operated İddaa. Utilizing unlicensed international betting platforms is strictly forbidden for Turkish citizens and can lead to legal repercussions. It remains uncertain if the implicated players and referees used İddaa or illegal offshore sites for their bets.
The TFF has stated its aim to enhance oversight by developing a system to monitor referees’ financial activities, along with enforcing lifetime bans on anyone found guilty of betting on sporting events.