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Istanbul Opens Criminal Probe After TFF Discloses Widespread Referee Betting

Top clubs are demanding full disclosure to restore trust.

Overview

  • An internal audit found 371 of 571 referees hold betting accounts and 152 placed bets, including ten who logged more than 10,000 wagers and one with 18,227.
  • The Turkish Football Federation says its disciplinary committee will initiate procedures and it is coordinating with state institutions, noting a five‑year limit on potential sanctions.
  • The federation has not released names, it is not established whether any wagers were on matches officiated by the same referees, and most bets were on foreign leagues.
  • Only 22 of the referees with betting accounts are active at the national level, while Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor are pressing for publication of identities and affected matches.
  • Media reports say the investigation may be expanding to include clubs and possibly as many as 3,700 players, a development authorities have not confirmed.