Prosecutors in Istanbul issued arrest warrants on Friday for dozens of football players and officials in relation to a betting scandal that has shaken Turkey.
Among those detained in early morning police raids were players from Turkey’s leading clubs, including Yandaş of Fenerbahçe and Metehan Baltacı of national champions Galatasaray.
The Turkish Football Federation said in October that it was investigating more than 150 referees in professional leagues for allegedly betting on soccer matches.
The probe soon expanded to include players, administrators, TV commentators and others in the sport.
Last month more than 100 professional players — including 25 from the top-tier league Süper Lig — were given temporary bans.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued warrants for 46 suspects on Friday.
The office said on Friday that 35 had already been detained, including the chair of Ankaraspor, Antalyaspor’s vice-chair and Adana Demirspor’s former chair.
Former referee and commentator Ahmet Çakar and current referee Zorbay Küçük were also arrested, news agency DHA reported.
Financial irregularities
In a statement, prosecutors said Baltacı, who previously played for national youth sides, had been found to have placed bets on his own team’s games. Yandaş allegedly placed his bets through someone else.
Seven people, including Çakar and Küçük, were arrested after “suspicious financial transactions” were found on their bank accounts.
All the suspects were detained under a law aimed at preventing disorder in sport, the statement added.
The law criminalises the manipulation of sports competitions. It carries a sentence of one to three years’ imprisonment, which can be increased if the offence is connected to betting markets, involves officials or affects professional leagues.
Under world and European football regulations, players, referees and club officials are prohibited from betting on games at any level.
The Turkish Football Federation has vowed to clean up the sport, with president Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu saying he would protect it from “scandal, decay and corrupt relationships.”
Quoted from Euronews.
