Istanbul prosecutors have ordered the arrest of 46 individuals, including 29 football players, as part of a sweeping probe into illegal betting on Turkish football matches. Among the players, 27 are suspected of placing bets on games involving their own teams, according to a statement from the public prosecutor’s office.
One of the high-profile names is Metehan Baltaci of reigning champions Galatasaray, who was suspended earlier this month for nine months over his involvement in the scandal. Another player, Mert Hakan Yandas of Fenerbahce, is reported to have placed bets through a third-party account.
The investigation has sent shockwaves through Turkish football. On November 10, six referees were placed in pre-trial detention, along with the president of Eyupspor, a club competing in the Super Lig. Prosecutors have so far detained 35 of the 46 individuals named in the arrest order, while five are reportedly abroad.
Bizarre Match Sparks Probe
The scandal traces back to a third-division match in the 2023-2024 season in which neither team made a single attempt on goal, raising suspicions of deliberate manipulation. Two club presidents are among those accused of attempting to influence the outcome of that match.
Additional suspects include six individuals, one of them a player, accused of conspiring to fix a second-division game between Umraniyespor and Giresunspor in December 2023. The investigation also targets a first-division referee, the former president of second-division side Adana Demirspor, and a prominent football commentator and his spouse, who are accused of suspicious financial transactions.
Turkish Football Federation Cracks Down
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF), which has vowed to “clean up” the sport, has suspended more than 1,000 players so far, including 25 from the Super Lig. Sanctions range from 45 days to 12 months, with only one foreign national affected Konyaspor’s Senegalese winger Alassane Ndao, who received a 12-month suspension.
In October, nearly 150 referees were suspended for betting on matches; all have since been dismissed. The TFF continues to investigate, signaling a firm stance against corruption and illegal betting in Turkish football.
