The Turkish Football Federation has suspended 149 referees and assistant referees for their alleged involvement in a gambling scandal involving professional football leagues.
The federation said on Friday it had decided to impose sanctions of eight to 12 months on the 149 officials, while investigations continued against another three.
«The reputation of Turkish football is built on the sanctity of commitment on the field and the unwavering integrity of justice. Any act that betrays these values is not only a violation of the rules, but a violation of trust,» federation president İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said in a statement.
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«Recent investigations have shown that some referees were involved in gambling activities in a way that was completely incompatible with the spirit of football. This is not just an offense – it is an abuse that wounds the conscience and poisons justice.»
Hacıosmanoğlu had announced on Monday that government authorities had determined that 371 of the 571 active referees had at least one account with a betting company. He said 152 referees with accounts have placed bets on football, including seven top referees and 15 top assistants.
Hacıosmanoğlu said that ten referees placed bets on more than 10,000 matches over five years, while some placed only one bet. One referee is said to have placed bets on 18,227 matches.
Citing judicial sources, Turkish Broadcasting Haberturk said investigations were also underway against clubs and players. It reported that approximately 3,700 players are being investigated.
Published on October 31, 2025
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