23.01.2025 21:20
The decision to discontinue the investigation regarding the crime of "encouraging individuals to place bets or participate in games of chance based on sports competitions" related to Galatasaray has been revoked.
Galatasaray Sports Club, Galatasaray Sportif Sınai ve Ticari Yatırımlar A.Ş, Galatasaray Sportif A.Ş., and Galatasaray manager Eray Yazgan have had the decision of non-prosecution regarding the charge of "encouraging individuals to engage in fixed-odds or joint betting or gambling based on sports competitions" revoked.
In the decision made by the Istanbul Peace Criminal Court, it was stated that the non-prosecution decision dated October 11, 2024, was appealed by the Sports Toto Organization Presidency.
In the appeal, it was noted that insufficient and inadequate research was conducted, and it was recorded that advertisements for "meritking.news" were present on the digital LED boards at Ramspark and on the jerseys of Galatasaray players during the match played on September 14, 2024, against Çaykur Rizespor.
It was reminded that on September 15, 2024, a statement was made on Galatasaray's official website, stating, "A sponsorship agreement has been signed between Galatasaray Sportif A.Ş, Galatasaray Sports Club, and Serwin Global Solutions SDN BHD for the promotion of the global digital sports news platform 'meritking.news' to be used for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons, amounting to 14 million 60 thousand dollars plus VAT, covering the advertising and promotional rights for our football team's jersey back and various branches. We respectfully announce this to the public."
"MERITKING SITE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED"
In the decision document, it was stated that a request was made to the Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK) to block access to the internet address mentioned in the statement, and it was noted that according to the article on "personal responsibility for crimes" in the Turkish Penal Code, the real persons within the legal entity and their responsibilities should be identified.
The decision emphasized that it should be determined whether a contract was signed regarding the officials of Serwin Global Solutions SDN BHD, who among the company officials had knowledge of the incident, and their defenses should be taken.
It was stated in the decision that it should be investigated whether the site named "Meritking.news" is foreign-based, who its manager is, and whether there are any contracts regarding the act of facilitating advertising, and if so, samples should be requested.
"INCOMPLETE INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED"
The decision stated that the manager of the site in question, the individuals contributing to the formation of the site, the decisions made by the company, the executive institutions of the company, and the person or persons who made the decision should be identified, and their defenses and statements should be taken.
It was noted that it should be determined whether the site in question is foreign-based, the manager of the site should be identified, and if necessary, digital materials should be seized and examined. The following statements were included in the decision:
"A technical expert examination should be conducted on the materials in question, and research should be carried out to determine whether a money-making activity occurred using the site in question, whether there is any income obtained from the site, and if so, the individuals facilitating the transfer of this money should be identified and questioned as 'suspects', thus it was decided to expand the investigation due to the incomplete and inadequate investigation."
The decision emphasized that the investigation should be expanded and the file should be returned to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for necessary action.
BEGINNING OF THE INVESTIGATION AND NON-PROSECUTION DECISION
In the decision given by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on October 11, 2024, stating that there was no basis for prosecution, it was reported that an investigation was initiated upon the application of the Sports Toto Organization Presidency, which stated that the site named "meritking.news" was a news site belonging to the illegal betting site named "meritking" and that the sponsorship agreement in question constituted a crime.
The summary of the statements taken and the defense petitions submitted to the file was mentioned in the decision, stating that Galatasaray began sponsorship negotiations thinking that the site named "meritking.news" was a news site, and that the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) was consulted regarding the use of the site's name, and that a contract was signed after TFF responded with "It is appropriate" on September 13, 2024.
It was stated that on September 16, 2024, a warning was made to Galatasaray Sports Club from Net Holding A.Ş, indicating that the "merit" brand was registered in the company's name and that the agreement led to brand infringement, that the "meritking" site was an illegal betting site, and that legal action against this site was ongoing, leading to the suspension of the sponsorship agreement on September 17, 2024, and that advertisements for the site were not used in the match on the same day.
The decision noted that on September 30, 2024, the contract was terminated, and it was stated that there was no basis for prosecution.