Turkey Detains 18 in Referee Betting Probe After 21 Warrants Issued

Overview

• Prosecutors ordered the detention of 21 suspects that include 17 referees and the president of a Super Lig club.
• Operations spanning 12 cities have led to 18 arrests so far, according to the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office.
• The case lists charges of abuse of duty, manipulating match results, and spreading misleading information on social media.
• State media reported that a former club owner and a former association president are among those detained.
• The TFF imposed eight- to 12-month bans after finding 371 of 571 active referees held betting accounts, with one placing 18,227 bets, a situation the federation’s president labeled a moral crisis.