Turkey Arrests Eight in Gambling Probe

Turkish authorities have arrested eight individuals, including the chairman of Super Lig club Eyüpspor, for allegedly betting on soccer matches. This is part of a comprehensive investigation into betting and match-fixing. 

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed that 1,024 players from across all leagues have been suspended and referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK). Among them are 27 players from Turkey’s top-tier Super Lig, including members of clubs Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. 

In its own probe, the TFF found that 371 of the 571 active referees in the country held betting accounts, with 152 actively placing bets on football matches. One referee placed over 18,000 bets, while 42 referees had wagered on more than 1,000 matches each. 

Matches in the second and third tiers of Turkish football have been suspended for two weeks as clubs scramble to fill squads. The federation has also requested approval from FIFA for a 15-day domestic transfer window to help mitigate the fallout. 

TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu described the affair as a “moral crisis” in Turkish football and pledged immediate reforms. He said, “We must clean up what is dirty and make sure the trust is restored.”