Turkish Soccer Faces Major Corruption Crisis as Betting Scandal Widens
A massive match-fixing and betting scandal has rocked Turkish soccer, prompting criminal investigations and widespread referee suspensions that threaten to undermine the integrity of the nation’s most popular sport.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued detention orders Friday for 21 individuals, including 17 referees and three club executives, as part of an expanding corruption probe. The investigation has implicated Eyupspor President Murat Ozkaya, former Kasimpasa owner Turgay Ciner, and former club president Fatih Sarac for allegedly manipulating match outcomes.
The scandal first erupted when the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and officials in October following revelations of widespread gambling activities. TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu disclosed that 371 of Turkey’s 571 active referees had betting accounts, with some officials placing thousands of wagers. One referee allegedly made over 18,000 bets, while 42 others each wagered on more than 1,000 matches.
In response, 152 suspended referees issued a joint statement denying they bet on matches they officiated, claiming some data was from their amateur days. Top referee Zorbay Kucuk separately filed a criminal complaint, alleging identity theft led to false betting accounts in his name.
The crisis has drawn attention from the highest levels of government, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirming the state’s commitment to addressing corruption in the sport. The investigation now proceeds along two parallel tracks: a criminal probe led by prosecutors and a disciplinary investigation by the TFF.
The scandal has exposed deeper issues within Turkish soccer and gambling. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed that Turkey’s illegal betting market is approximately twice the size of its regulated sector, which generated 590.9 billion lira ($32 billion) in 2024 through the state-run Iddaa platform.
Major clubs including Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray have supported the investigation, calling for transparency and reform. The TFF has pledged to cooperate with UEFA, sharing information to align with international integrity standards as the investigation continues to unfold.
This crisis represents the latest challenge for Turkish soccer, which has previously faced violence against officials and widespread criticism of referee standards, including from high-profile figures like José Mourinho. As investigations proceed, the scandal threatens to reshape the landscape of Turkish football and its governing institutions.
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