Illegal betting scandal in Turkey: 29 players arrested
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office launched a major anti-corruption operation that led to the arrest of 46 people, while the Turkish federation faces an unprecedented scandal that is shaking the integrity of its competitions.
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The Istanbul prosecutor’s office ordered the arrest of 46 people, including 29 professional players, as part of a wide-ranging investigation into illegal betting affecting several matches of the Turkish championship. According to initial findings, at least 27 footballers are suspected of betting on matches involving their own teams, a serious breach of sporting and ethical regulations.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed that its disciplinary committee had already handed down suspensions ranging from eight to twelve months against several officials involved in the case, while investigations continue regarding three referees.
A large-scale internal inquiry conducted among 571 referees from the various professional divisions also reveals that 371 had opened a sports betting account and that 152 had actually placed bets, illustrating the scale of the scandal currently rocking Turkish football.