20.11.2025 12:01
The report from MASAK regarding the investigation initiated after TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu's statement that "371 referees have betting accounts, and 152 of them are actively betting" has emerged. Among the 152 referees who are members of betting sites, 147 were found to have conducted approximately 18,278 transactions amounting to 21 million 778 thousand Turkish Lira in legal domestic sites between 2021 and 2025. The individual with the highest transaction volume was Erkan Arslan, with 10.5 million TL.
Following the statement of TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that "371 referees have betting accounts, 152 of them are actively betting," the investigation has revealed the MASAK report. In the betting and match-fixing investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 8 people, including Eyüpspor President Murat Özkaya, were arrested.
MASAK EXAMINED 152 REFEREES' ACCOUNTS
According to a report by Sabah newspaper, MASAK scrutinized the financial activities of 152 referees who are members of betting sites. The investigations revealed that 147 referees conducted approximately 18,278 transactions between 2021 and 2025, with a total of 21 million 778 thousand 837 TL in money inflows and outflows.
THE BUSIEST YEAR: 2024
The year in which referees conducted the most transactions with betting sites was 2024. In this year, a transaction volume of 5 million 869 thousand TL was reached. In 2025, so far, 2,478 transactions have been recorded with a movement of 4 million 293 thousand TL.
REFEREE WITH THE MOST TRANSACTIONS: ERKAN ARSLAN
The most striking part of the report is that among the 147 referees, the one with the highest transaction volume was Erkan Arslan. Arslan topped the list with 6,380 transactions and a transaction volume of 10 million 548 thousand 837 TL.
He was followed by the following names:
- Yasin Şen: 284 transactions – 1 million 738 thousand 572 TL
- Yakup Yapıcı: 1,112 transactions – 1 million 688 thousand 222 TL
TRANSACTIONS UNDER ZORBAY KÜÇÜK'S NAME
It was determined that there were 2 transactions under the name of referee Zorbay Küçük, who filed a complaint stating that his identity information was stolen, with a total volume of 5 thousand TL.
3 REFEREES ON ILLEGAL BETTING SITES
During the investigation, it was determined that three referees were also active on illegal sites. Yakup Yapıcı had been betting on an illegal site named "Grand…" for a year. Nevzat Okat was caught with user notes related to the "betp…" and "1xb…" sites on his phone. Ahmet Kıvanç Kader's phone revealed memberships to four different illegal betting sites.
4 REFEREES ARRESTED, 1 REFEREE UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL
As part of the ongoing investigation, Nevzat Okat, Erkan Arslan, Yakup Yazıcı, and Ahmet Kıvanç Kader are being held in custody. Class assistant referee Yasin Şen was released under judicial control conditions.
While the betting scandal continues to create a significant upheaval in the Turkish football community, the investigation is expected to expand in the coming days.