Turkish football betting probe suspends 1024 players
A major scandal is unfolding in Turkish football after the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 1,024 players from all professional leagues amid an investigation into alleged illegal betting and match-fixing.
The suspension, announced on November 10, includes 27 players from the top-tier Süper Lig, with many others from the second, third and amateur divisions. On the same day, Turkish authorities arrested eight individuals — including the chairman of top-flight club Eyüpspor as part of the probe.
The scandal also implicates match officials. Earlier, 149 referees and assistant referees were suspended after the TFF found 371 of 571 active officials held betting accounts, with 152 of them actively gambling — one referee had reportedly placed 18,227 bets.
The TFF described the situation as a “moral crisis” in Turkish football and has taken steps including postponing matches in second and third tiers for two weeks and seeking an exceptional 15-day national transfer window so clubs can fill the many squad gaps resulting from these suspensions.
