Istanbul prosecutors have ordered the arrest of 46 individuals, including 29 football players, in connection with an extensive investigation into illegal betting on Turkish football matches. According to the public prosecutor’s office, 27 of the players are suspected of placing bets on games involving their own teams.
Among the players named is Metehan Baltaci of reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray, who had already been suspended earlier this month for nine months in relation to the scandal. Another player, Mert Hakan Yandas of Fenerbahce, is accused of placing bets through a third-party account.
The investigation has sent shockwaves through Turkish football. On 10 November, six referees were placed in pre-trial detention, along with the president of Eyupspor, a club competing in Turkey’s top division, the Super Lig.
So far, police have detained 35 of the 46 individuals named in the arrest order. Five of those under investigation are reportedly abroad.
Two club presidents are also included in the arrest order, accused of attempting to influence the outcome of a third-division match during the 2023-2024 season. The game attracted scrutiny as neither side recorded a single attempt on goal, prompting Turkish media to report it as the initial focus of the probe.
In addition, six other suspects, including one player, are accused of conspiring to manipulate a second-division match between Umraniyespor and Giresunspor in December 2023. A first-division referee, the former president of second-division team Adana Demirspor, and a well-known football commentator and his spouse are under investigation for suspicious financial transactions.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended over 1,000 players as part of its efforts to combat betting-related misconduct, including 25 from the Super Lig. Suspensions range from 45 days to 12 months. The only foreign player affected so far is Alassane Ndao of Konyaspor, who has been suspended for 12 months.
In October, nearly 150 referees were suspended by the TFF for betting on matches, all of whom have since been dismissed. The federation has emphasised its commitment to “cleaning up” football in Turkey and restoring integrity to the sport.
