By Martin Graham
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended 149 referees and assistant referees following a major investigation into illegal betting activity among match officials.
The disciplinary process, which exposed widespread gambling within the profession, imposed suspensions ranging from eight to 12 months depending on the severity of each case. Three additional officers remain under review as inquiries continue.
The full list of those sanctioned has been published on the federation’s official website.
Scale of the investigation and conclusions
The sanctions stem from a five-year investigation that examined 571 referees and assistants at different levels of Turkish football.
Investigators discovered that 371 officials had opened betting accounts and 152 of them were actively betting on matches. While a small number made only one bet, others were found to have engaged in large-scale gambling. One referee reportedly placed 18,227 separate bets, while 42 others each bet on more than 1,000 soccer matches.
In accordance with the disciplinary rules established by the TFF, as well as those of FIFA and UEFA, all referees, players and coaches are prohibited from betting on sporting events.
The violations discovered have led to strong criticism of football governance and the country’s ethical standards.
The federation’s response and the president’s statement
TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu described the situation as evidence of a deep-rooted moral problem in Turkish football. Speaking to CNN, he said: “There is a moral crisis in Turkish football. There is no structure. The fundamental problem at the core of Turkish football is ethical.”
He also dismissed claims that financial disputes may have contributed to the problem, insisting that referees were paid quickly and had received pay rises in consecutive years.
No further details were given on individual cases or the three ongoing investigations, although the TFF said it would continue its disciplinary review process.
Reactions of the Turkish clubs
Major Turkish clubs have reacted strongly to the revelations, with many calling for reform and more transparency.
Besiktas said the incident “could mark a new beginning for clean football”, while Trabzonspor described it as “a historic opportunity to rebuild justice in Turkish football”.
Fenerbahçe president Sadettin Saran expressed both disappointment and cautious optimism, saying that while the findings were “shocking and deeply saddening”, exposing the truth offered “a hopeful development” for the future.
