07.11.2025 21:05
As part of the investigation into the allegations of 'betting' involving some referees officiating in football matches, 19 suspects, including former Kasımpaşaspor Association President Fatih Saraç and Eyüpspor President Murat Özkaya, were detained. Saraç, who was detained on charges of influencing the outcome of a match, was released after the completion of his statement procedures at the police station, following a decision by the prosecutor's office.
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The investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the allegations of 'betting' involving some referees working in football matches continues, following the statements of the President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu on October 27, 2025, that '371 referees had betting accounts, and it was determined that 152 of them were actively betting,' which was accepted as a tip-off.
In the first phase of the investigation, taking into account that the referees are public officials, the monetary values of the betting games evaluated as actions contrary to their duties, the income they earned from their refereeing duties, and their own income outside of their refereeing duties were compared. As a result, a detention order was issued for 17 referees, namely 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., and Y.Ş., for the crimes of 'abuse of office' and 'influencing the outcome of a match.' Eyüpspor President Murat Özkaya and former Kasımpaşaspor Association President Fatih Saraç were also detained.
FATİH SARAÇ RELEASED
Fatih Saraç, the former President of Kasımpaşaspor, who was detained as part of the investigation into the allegations of 'betting' involving some referees working in football matches, was released after the procedures at the police station and a decision by the prosecutor's office.
DETENTION ORDER FOR TURGAY CİNER
A detention order was issued for Turgay Ciner, who has an arrest warrant against him in the investigation concerning Can Holding and is wanted, regarding the allegation that "referees were betting." It was learned that two of the suspects are abroad, and one could not be found at their address. The procedures for the detained suspects will be carried out at the Istanbul Cyber Crimes Department.
STATEMENT FROM THE ISTANBUL CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
In a statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that an investigation was initiated following the press release by the President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, stating that "371 referees had betting accounts and it was determined that 152 of them were actively betting." The statement mentioned that the monetary values of the betting games evaluated as actions contrary to their duties, the income they earned from their refereeing duties, and their own income outside of their duties were examined, along with the allegations of match-fixing and influencing the outcome of matches as stated in the Law on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports.
The statement indicated that as a result of the investigation, a detention order was issued for 17 referees named 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, and Y.Ş. for 'abuse of office' and the crime of 'influencing the outcome of a match' as stated in Law No. 6222. Additionally, due to actions aimed at influencing the outcome of matches in football leagues, a detention order was issued for M.Ö, the president of a football club in the Trendyol Super League, T.C., a former owner of a club, and M.F.S., a former association president, for the crime of 'influencing the outcome of a match' as stated in Law No. 6222. Furthermore, a detention order was issued for U.E., who was evaluated to have shared misleading information and documents on social media by making manipulative posts of uncertain origin, for the crime of 'publicly disseminating misleading information,' and a total of 21 suspects were subject to detention orders in the investigation.
The statement emphasized that during the searches, seizures, and detention operations at the addresses, 18 suspects were captured. Considering the size and impact of factors such as players and referees in the Turkish football leagues, as well as institutions like football clubs and their governing bodies, it was emphasized that all evidence, both for and against, must be collected thoroughly and meticulously in the ongoing judicial investigation. It was highlighted that the judicial investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the administrative investigation carried out by the TFF should be evaluated as two distinct phenomena in terms of evidence status, sanctions, and subsequent legal processes.
The statement included the following remarks: "The judicial evaluation of individuals against whom the TFF has taken administrative action may differ, and it is also possible for judicial actions to be taken against individuals who have not been subject to any action by the TFF. Therefore, within the scope of the current judicial investigation, these actions have been established based on the evaluations made as a result of the assessments conducted without relying on the information and documents in this administrative process, utilizing the disciplinary evaluation made by the TFF. Given the large number of individuals, including players, technical staff, and administrators, involved in all football leagues in our country, and the matches that need to be examined, it is known that investigations into such allegations will be conducted decisively without interruption in coordination with all relevant institutions and organizations, and the public is informed that no unverified information from social media should be trusted."
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