Turkish Football Torn Apart by Betting Scandal
The Turkish football federation has launched a crackdown on match-fixing and betting scandals, suspending hundreds of officials and players in a bid to "purge" the sport of its "filth". The move comes after an internal investigation revealed that 371 out of 571 active referees held betting accounts, with 152 actively gambling on matches.
The hardline president of the Turkish Football Federation, İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, has vowed to tackle the problem head-on. He declared that the corruption had been "flowing right under the pitch" and promised to bring Turkish football to a place it deserves to be in. The investigation found evidence of widespread betting on matches, with some officials placing bets on games they were officiating.
The consequences have been swift and severe. Over 1,000 players across various leagues have been suspended for alleged betting violations, while 149 referees and assistant referees have also been suspended. The Istanbul chief public prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation, issuing detention orders for 21 individuals, including club executives.
Eyewitnesses describe the atmosphere in Turkish football as increasingly tense and hostile towards officials. Fans have long viewed refereeing decisions with suspicion, leading to the collapse of public trust in referees and the authorities. The situation has been exacerbated by violent outbursts, such as when MKE Ankaragücü's president, Faruk Koca, punched a referee in the face.
The TFF's professional football disciplinary board has also announced punishments ranging from 45 days to one year for players who broke the rules prohibiting betting on matches. The elite clubs and even the national team have not been spared, with Galatasaray and Turkey defender Eren Elmalı receiving a 45-day suspension.
Hacıosmanoğlu's vision is of a clean-up that goes beyond just punishing those involved in match-fixing. He sees an end to the culture of impunity that has plagued Turkish football for decades and promises that the deserving will always win.
The Turkish football federation has launched a crackdown on match-fixing and betting scandals, suspending hundreds of officials and players in a bid to "purge" the sport of its "filth". The move comes after an internal investigation revealed that 371 out of 571 active referees held betting accounts, with 152 actively gambling on matches.
The hardline president of the Turkish Football Federation, İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, has vowed to tackle the problem head-on. He declared that the corruption had been "flowing right under the pitch" and promised to bring Turkish football to a place it deserves to be in. The investigation found evidence of widespread betting on matches, with some officials placing bets on games they were officiating.
The consequences have been swift and severe. Over 1,000 players across various leagues have been suspended for alleged betting violations, while 149 referees and assistant referees have also been suspended. The Istanbul chief public prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation, issuing detention orders for 21 individuals, including club executives.
Eyewitnesses describe the atmosphere in Turkish football as increasingly tense and hostile towards officials. Fans have long viewed refereeing decisions with suspicion, leading to the collapse of public trust in referees and the authorities. The situation has been exacerbated by violent outbursts, such as when MKE Ankaragücü's president, Faruk Koca, punched a referee in the face.
The TFF's professional football disciplinary board has also announced punishments ranging from 45 days to one year for players who broke the rules prohibiting betting on matches. The elite clubs and even the national team have not been spared, with Galatasaray and Turkey defender Eren Elmalı receiving a 45-day suspension.
Hacıosmanoğlu's vision is of a clean-up that goes beyond just punishing those involved in match-fixing. He sees an end to the culture of impunity that has plagued Turkish football for decades and promises that the deserving will always win.