07.11.2025 20:21
As lively days unfold in the betting investigation in Turkish football, resignations have come one after another at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). A total of 45 referees who admitted to placing bets have resigned.
While the betting investigation in Turkish football continues, 17 referees, 1 Super League club president, 1 former owner of a football team, and a former association president were detained on charges of "abuse of power" and "influencing the outcome of a match," leading to a series of resignations in the TFF's internal investigation.
According to a report by NTV, 45 classification representatives who admitted to betting resigned during the TFF's internal investigation. These individuals were removed from the duty lists for weekend matches, and new representatives were appointed in their place.
BACKGROUND OF THE BETTING INVESTIGATION
The statement by TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, which shook the refereeing community, was accepted as a tip-off by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation would deepen and continue. It was noted that there is an ongoing investigation and that the latest allegations would also be addressed within this scope. Following the statements of TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that an investigation had been initiated regarding allegations of betting involving some referees who officiated in football matches in April 2025.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also drew attention to the existence of an ongoing investigation, stating, "While this investigation is ongoing, following reports of another investigation initiated by some referees' applications to the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the MHK, this new investigation, due to the already ongoing investigation, has been sent to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with a decision of lack of jurisdiction, and both investigation files are being combined and research is continuing under a single file."
The statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also indicated that the declaration made by İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu regarding "referees with betting accounts" was accepted as a tip-off concerning the ongoing investigation file, and it included the following statements.
"With the identification of these referees, the ongoing investigation will be further deepened regarding allegations of violations of Law No. 6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports, violations of Law No. 7405 on Sports Clubs and Sports Federations, violations of Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Gambling in Football and Other Sports Competitions, and other criminal allegations to be identified."
MASAK REPORTS WILL ALSO BE COMING
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that MASAK reports, HTS records, subscription records of domestic and foreign betting sites that can be accessed, and records and witness statements regarding the detection of betting activities on these sites are being obtained within the scope of the ongoing investigation.
The statement noted, "It should be appreciated that analyzing these records belonging to thousands of individuals and dozens of institutions over a retrospective period of at least 5 years takes a certain amount of time and requires intense labor, and only after these analyses will necessary legal actions be taken against the actual suspects."
WHAT HAPPENED?
TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu announced at a press conference held on October 27 that it had been determined that 152 referees were actively betting, emphasizing that necessary investigations would be conducted within the Federation, stating, "We will clean up all the filth that exists to elevate Turkish football to where it deserves to be. I call on our clubs. We started with the referees, but including myself and my board members, we are also monitoring ourselves with the relevant state institutions we are working with. We will share the results of this soon. Our work regarding the Turkish football family is also ongoing. Just as we, as the TFF, are cleaning in front of our own door, our esteemed clubs also need to check themselves with all their elements."