06.12.2025 14:21
In the second wave of the 'betting and match-fixing' operation carried out in 16 provinces centered in Istanbul, a total of 38 people were detained, including Murat Sancak and Mert Hakan Yandaş. The suspects were taken to the police station after a health check. Murat Sancak's remarks to journalists while getting on the police bus drew attention. Sancak said, "We will meet, we will meet."
As part of the "betting in football" investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 38 individuals, including Galatasaray football player Metehan Baltacı, Fenerbahçe football player Mert Hakan Yandaş, top-tier referee Zorbay Küçük, former president of Adana Demirspor Sports Club Murat Sancak, and former football referee and current sports commentator Ahmet Çakar, were brought to Bayrampaşa State Hospital for a health check after being detained in an operation conducted yesterday.
"WE WILL MEET" During his boarding of the police bus, Murat Sancak's remarks to journalists drew attention. Sancak stated, "We will meet, we will meet."
After the health check, the suspects were taken to the Istanbul Police Department's headquarters on Vatan Avenue. The procedures for the 38 suspects in custody are ongoing.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE STATEMENT In a statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that as part of the second phase of the investigations known to the public as "Betting Investigations in Football," data obtained from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and legal betting sites, open-source research, and analysis studies regarding 101 football players who received penalties for deprivation of rights in the Professional Football Disciplinary Board's (PFDK) meeting on November 13, along with other evidence, were included.
The statement indicated that there was a detention order for 27 football players, including Metehan Baltacı, a professional football player of Galatasaray Sports Club, who were found to have placed bets on their own team's matches. It was also mentioned that Fenerbahçe Sports Club's professional football player Mert Hakan Yandaş, who was found to have placed bets through another person on the match result of the football match between Ankaraspor and Nazilli Belediyespor played on April 28, 2024, was involved in efforts to influence the match result, leading to detention orders for Ankaraspor Club owner Ahmet Okatan, Ankaraspor Club President Mehmet Emin Katipoğlu, Nazilli Belediyespor President Şahin Kaya, and two coaches.
The statement also mentioned that there was a detection of an agreement aimed at influencing the match result of the football match between Ümraniyespor and Giresunspor played on December 24, 2023, and that a detention order was issued for six individuals, including one football player.
It was stated that as a result of the examination of bank accounts, suspicious financial transactions were identified, leading to detention orders for seven individuals, including former president of Adana Demirspor Sports Club Murat Sancak, former football referee and current sports commentator Ahmet Çakar and his wife, as well as top-tier referee Zorbay Küçük. It was noted that a simultaneous capture, detention, search, and seizure order was issued to the Istanbul Police Department for a total of 46 suspects located in Istanbul and 16 different provinces for the crime of "violating the Law on Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports No. 6222." In the operation carried out by police teams, 38 suspects were detained, and it was determined that five suspects were abroad.