The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended 149 referees and assistant referees for involvement in betting activity, citing a ‘moral crisis’ in Turkish football.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation revealed widespread involvement in betting activity. The federation’s disciplinary board imposed bans ranging from eight to 12 months on the officials, citing a “moral crisis” in Turkish football.
TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu stated that the investigation, based on data from state institutions, found that 371 of 571 active referees in Turkey’s professional leagues had betting accounts, and 152 of them were actively gambling. The penalties were determined by considering the “severity of the act,” but no additional details were provided.
Haciosmanoglu emphasized that refereeing is a profession of honour, and those who tarnish it will never again be involved in Turkish football. He also highlighted that some referees had placed a staggering number of bets, with one referee betting 18,227 times, and 42 referees having bet on more than 1,000 football matches each.
The TFF has published the full list of suspended officials on its website, and investigations into three others are still ongoing.
The move has been welcomed by Turkey’s top clubs, with Besiktas calling it “a new beginning for clean football” and Trabzonspor describing it as “an historic opportunity to rebuild justice in Turkish football”.
Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran added that the development is “both shocking and deeply saddening for Turkish football, but the fact that it is coming to light is a hopeful development”. The Istanbul public prosecutor’s office has launched a separate criminal investigation into the scandal.
The suspensions mark a significant step towards restoring integrity to Turkish football, with the TFF prioritizing the sport’s reputation and fairness. As Haciosmanoglu stated, “There is a moral crisis in Turkish football. There is no such thing as structure. The fundamental problem at the core of Turkish football is an ethical one.”
