07.11.2025 12:32
As part of the betting investigation, a detention order was issued for a total of 21 individuals, including 17 referees and 2 club presidents. While 19 of these individuals were detained, it is stated that actions were taken against the referees on charges of "influencing the outcome of matches and disseminating misleading information."
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The football betting investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is deepening. The prosecutor's office, which accepted the statement of TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu on October 27, stating that "371 referees had betting accounts and 152 of them were actively betting," issued detention orders for 21 individuals.
2 CLUB PRESIDENTS IN CUSTODY
17 referees, along with Eyüpspor President Murat Özkaya and former Kasımpaşaspor President Mehmet Fatih Saraç, have been detained. It was determined that 2 individuals, including Kasımpaşa Club owner Turgay Ciner, were abroad.
STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated: "- Considering that referees are public officials, the monetary values of betting games evaluated as actions contrary to their duties, the income they earn from their refereeing duties, and their own income outside of refereeing, as well as the examination of the allegations of match-fixing and influencing match results as stated in the Law on Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports; initially, 17 referees (A. K. K. - A. T. - B. K. - B. T. - B. E. A. - C. B. - E. A. - M. Y. - M. Ö. - N. O. - N. K. - S. E. T. - Ş. B. - U. T. - U. K. - Y. Y - Y. Ş.) are being investigated for the allegations of "abuse of office" under the Turkish Penal Code and the crime of "influencing the outcome of a competition" under Law No. 6222.
- Due to the evaluation of actions aimed at influencing the outcome of competitions in football leagues, regarding the allegations of "influencing the outcome of a competition" under Law No. 6222, the president of 1 football team (M. Ö.), the former owner of 1 team (T. C.), and the former association president (M. F. S) are also being investigated.
- During this investigation, regarding the individual named U. E., who is evaluated to have shared misleading information and documents through manipulative posts on social media, an investigation is being conducted for the crime of "publicly disseminating misleading information" under the Turkish Penal Code. A total of 21 individuals have been subjected to search, seizure, and detention measures at addresses in a total of 12 different cities, including Istanbul.
- Considering the size and impact of factors such as players, referees, and football clubs in our country's football leagues, it is essential that all evidence, both for and against, is collected meticulously and accurately during this ongoing judicial investigation. The judicial investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the administrative investigation conducted by the TFF should be evaluated as two separate phenomena in terms of evidence status, sanctions, and subsequent legal processes.
- While the administrative evaluation of individuals against whom the TFF has taken action may differ from a judicial perspective, it is also possible for judicial actions to be taken against individuals who have not been subject to any administrative action by the TFF. Therefore, the actions taken against the specific individuals mentioned above have been established as a result of evaluations made ex officio, without relying on the information and documents in this administrative process, by utilizing the disciplinary evaluation conducted by the TFF within the scope of the current judicial investigation.
- Given the large number of individuals involved in matches, including players, technical staff, and administrators in all football leagues in our country, it is important to know that investigations into such allegations will be conducted decisively without interruption, in coordination with all relevant institutions and organizations, in light of the research to be conducted ex officio by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. It is also emphasized that no unverified information from social media should be trusted.
BACKGROUND OF THE BETTING INVESTIGATION
The statement by Turkey Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, which shook the refereeing community, was accepted as a tip-off by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The prosecutor's office stated that the investigation would deepen. It was noted that this is an ongoing investigation and that the latest allegations would also be addressed within this scope.
Following TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu's statements, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that an investigation had been initiated in April 2025 regarding the allegations of betting involving some referees working in football matches.
The prosecutor's office also pointed out the existence of an ongoing investigation, stating: "While this investigation is ongoing, following reports that some referees have applied to the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an additional investigation process has been initiated regarding the MHK. Due to the ongoing investigation, this new investigation at the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office 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 by İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu regarding "referees with betting accounts" was also accepted as a tip-off regarding the ongoing investigation file, and the prosecutor's office included the following statements.
"With the identification of these referees, the ongoing investigation will be deepened regarding the allegations of violation of the Law on Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports No. 6222, violation of the Law on Sports Clubs and Sports Federations No. 7405, violation of the Law on Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions No. 7258, and other identified criminal allegations."
The statement that deepened the investigation came from Turkey Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu. Hacıosmanoğlu claimed that 371 referees had betting accounts and that it was determined that 152 of them were actively betting. TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu stated that necessary sanctions would be imposed on these referees.
MASAK REPORTS WILL ALSO BE RECEIVED
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that MASAK reports, HTS records, subscription records of accessible domestic and international betting sites, and records and witness statements regarding the betting activities on these sites are being obtained within the scope of the ongoing investigation.
It should be noted that analyzing these records belonging to thousands of individuals and dozens of institutions over a retrospective period of at least 5 years takes time and requires intensive work, and only after these analyses will judicial actions be taken against the actual suspects.
149 REFEREES RECEIVED A BAN ON PARTICIPATION
The Turkey Football Federation (TFF) Professional Football Discipline Board (PFDK) imposed a ban on participation for 149 referees ranging from 8 to 12 months in the betting investigation, while the investigation for 3 referees was ongoing.
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