Turkey Suspends, The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken strong disciplinary action by suspending 149 referees and assistant referees after uncovering widespread betting activity among match officials. The unprecedented move follows a long-running investigation that revealed a significant number of professional referees in Turkey had opened betting accounts in violation of national and international football regulations. According to the TFF, the suspended referees received bans ranging from eight to twelve months, depending on the seriousness of their involvement. The federation stated that the disciplinary measures were based on the severity of the act and that investigations into three additional officials remain ongoing. A full list of the suspended referees and assistants has been made public on the TFF’s official website. The revelations come after a five-year investigation that examined the betting habits of hundreds of match officials. The probe found that out of 571 referees and assistant referees, 371 had betting accounts. Among those, 152 were actively engaged in gambling activities. Some officials were found to have placed only a few bets, while others were heavily involved. Shockingly, 42 officials had wagered on more than 1,000 matches, and one individual was discovered to have placed an astonishing 18,227 bets.
Turkey Suspends 149 Football Referees Over Massive Betting Scandal
Under TFF disciplinary rules, as well as regulations from FIFA and UEFA, referees, players, and coaches are strictly forbidden from participating in any form of betting related to football. The federation emphasized that the discovery of widespread betting among referees represents a deep ethical issue within Turkish football. TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu described the situation as a moral crisis for the sport in Turkey. Speaking to CNN, he said, 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. Haciosmanoglu also dismissed claims that low pay might have motivated referees to gamble, adding, Ask any referee if there is even one who has not received his pay, I will resign as federation president. In fact, we improved their salaries last year and again this year.
The federation has not released further details regarding the specific cases or the status of ongoing investigations, but the announcement has already sent shockwaves through the Turkish football community. Following the publication of the findings, several major Turkish clubs responded publicly. Besiktas stated that the scandal could mark a new beginning for clean football, while Trabzonspor called it a historic opportunity to rebuild justice in Turkish football. Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran said the revelations were both shocking and deeply saddening, but expressed optimism that bringing the issue to light could help restore integrity to the sport. The TFF’s decisive action marks a significant moment for football in Turkey, as the federation seeks to rebuild trust, strengthen ethical standards, and ensure that the country’s refereeing system upholds the integrity expected at both national and international levels.
source:BBC
