29.12.2025 19:15
The statement given by Buğra Cem İmamoğulları, the Director of Foreign Relations and National Teams of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), who was detained as part of the 'Betting in Football' investigation, has emerged. In his statement, İmamoğulları said, "I may have placed bets on football matches played in the Turkish leagues. I do not remember betting on the Trabzonspor-Gençlerbirliği football match that took place on September 15, 2019. I did not engage in any actions that would affect the outcome of the mentioned match."
As part of the 'Betting in Football' investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 26 suspects, including former Galatasaray Sportif AŞ Vice President Erden Timur and Eyüpspor Vice President Fatih Kulaksız, as well as Turkey Football Federation (TFF) Director of Foreign Relations and National Teams Buğra Cem İmamoğulları, were detained in simultaneous operations carried out in 11 provinces.
BUĞRA CEM İMAMOĞULLARI'S STATEMENT REVEALED
The suspects were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the police station. The statement of Buğra Cem İmamoğulları, the Director of Foreign Relations and National Teams of the Turkey Football Federation (TFF), has been revealed.
'I AM COORDINATING RELATIONS WITH FIFA AND UEFA'
In his statement, Buğra Cem İmamoğulları said, "I started my internship in the organization team for the UEFA Cup final in Turkey in 2009. After receiving a job offer during Turkey's candidacy process for the European Football Championship, I began working professionally at TFF in November 2009. I worked as a stadium expert until September 2016. I was responsible for inspecting the football stadiums used by football teams in all professional leagues in Turkey. In September 2016, I became the Director of Foreign Relations. I took on the role of Director of Foreign Relations in 2019-2020. In October 2021, I was appointed as the Director of Foreign Relations and National Teams at TFF, and I am still serving in this position. My role involves organizing the administrative affairs of the national teams. I am also coordinating relations with FIFA and UEFA. I receive a salary of 230,000 TL from TFF monthly. Additionally, I work as a match director at UEFA. I have served in UEFA organizations for teams such as Maccabi Tel Aviv, Qarabağ, Dynamo Kyiv, Arsenal, and Inter. I have one vehicle registered in my name. Apart from that, I do not have any real estate registered in my name," he stated.
''I MAY HAVE PLACED BETS ON MATCHES IN TURKEY''
In his statement, İmamoğulları said, "I opened an account on a legal betting site in 2006. I placed bets on the results of football and basketball matches, but I do not remember which matches I bet on as time has passed. I may have placed bets on football matches played in the Turkish leagues. I definitely did not bet on the matches of the teams I served as a match director in UEFA organizations. I do not remember betting on the Trabzonspor-Gençlerbirliği football match played on September 15, 2019. I did not engage in any actions that would affect the outcome of the mentioned match. Given my position at TFF at that time, such a thing is not possible. After TFF referred active referees with memberships to legal betting sites to the PFDK as part of the betting investigation, I decided to close my membership when I remembered that I had a membership to a legal betting site and had not placed any bets for a long time. As can be seen in the MASAK report, I deposited a small amount of 550 lira into the legal betting site. In return, there was also a small amount of 352 lira entry. It is evident that I did not make any profit. I did not place any bets on illegal betting sites. I know Fatih Kulaksız by name as a manager of Eyüpspor in the football sector. I spoke with him regarding FIFA coordination related to Eyüpspor's transfer ban in the summer of 2025. Apart from that, I have had no contact with him. I do not accept the accusations against me," he said.