Turkey probes hundreds of football referees involved in sports betting

Turkey’s football federation revealed that 371 of 571 referees working in professional leagues hold betting accounts, with 152 actively placing bets, prompting prosecutors to launch an investigation into match-fixing allegations.

Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu announced Monday that investigations with state authorities had uncovered widespread betting among officials, including seven top-class referees and 15 assistant referees.

One referee placed 18,227 bets, while 42 referees wagered on over 1,000 football matches.

“Starting from today, our disciplinary committee will take the necessary actions,” Hacıosmanoğlu said, adding that referees will be referred to the disciplinary board for penalties under federation instructions.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said it accepted Hacıosmanoğlu’s statement as a formal denunciation and will expand its ongoing investigation launched in April. Prosecutors are examining potential violations of laws preventing sports violence and irregularities, sports federation regulations, and betting legislation.

“With the identification of these referees, the current investigation will be further deepened,” the prosecutor’s office stated.

Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek called the investigation “an important turning point for Turkish football,” demanding the federation transparently publish the names of referees with betting accounts, matches they officiated, and details of their wagers.

“We will follow this process to the end,” Özbek said on the club’s website. “We are ready to assume every responsibility for the construction of an order in which the dark spots of Turkish football are illuminated.”

Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran said the revelations vindicated his club’s concerns about betting amongst officials. “Our righteousness is coming out,” he said, adding he would personally monitor the investigation.

Beşiktaş demanded the publication of referees’ names, while some clubs called for the abolition of relegation this season. The investigation covers a five-year period under Turkish law.

Turkish professional football has faced recurring accusations of match-fixing and corruption in recent years.

Quoted from Euronews.