Turkey detains top-tier players in football betting probe
Turkey’s football integrity crisis deepened this week after a Turkish court jailed 20 suspects, including Super Lig players, pending trial as part of an expanding betting investigation that authorities warn may continue to widen.
According to Reuters, prosecutors last week ordered the detention of 46 individuals, including footballers, club executives, commentators and a referee, over suspected insider betting in Turkey’s professional leagues.
State-run Anadolu Agency reported on 9 December (Tuesday) that among those remanded in custody were Galatasaray’s Metehan Baltaci, Fenerbahce’s Mert Hakan Yandas, and former Adana Demirspor president Murat Sancak, all formally arrested following initial detentions.
A scandal of historic scale
The scope of the current investigation is drawing comparisons to major match-fixing and betting scandals in China, South Korea, Italy and other European countries in previous decades.
“For years, the problems of Turkish football have been swept under the carpet,” Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Chairman Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu said. “Such disgraceful decisions have been made, such crimes covered up, and the sole responsibility for our current situation is a lack of will.”
He confirmed the federation’s internal probe may expand further once detailed data is received from state-run betting operator Spor Toto, covering match observers, coaches and managers. “The data hasn’t yet arrived. We want the public to know that we will take appropriate action when it does,” he added.
Players deny involvement
At a court hearing on 8 December (Monday), Baltaci admitted he had placed bets on a few matches years ago while in the youth team, but insisted he stopped after joining Galatasaray’s senior squad, Anadolu reported. Sabah newspaper cited Yandas as denying any involvement in gambling on matches.
Sancak also rejected the allegations, telling the court he does not hold a betting account and has never placed a wager, according to Cumhuriyet.
A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
A crisis erupts into the open
On 5 December, prosecutors ordered the detention of 46 people as part of a sweeping investigation into insider betting and potential match-fixing across the country’s professional leagues. 35 individuals were detained that day, while five others remain abroad, Reuters reported.
Notably, 27 players, including one from Galatasaray and one from Fenerbahce, are accused of betting on matches involving their own teams. Neither club has issued a public response. The widening investigation follows weeks of widespread suspensions and alarming disclosures about betting practices across all levels of Turkish football.
One of the largest scandals in Turkish football history
Earlier this month, authorities arrested Eyupspor chairman Murat Ozkaya and seven others. The TFF also suspended 1,024 players across all divisions for suspected betting violations, in addition to suspending 149 referees and assistants after uncovering widespread gambling among match officials.
A TFF integrity audit revealed that 152 of the 571 active referees in Turkey’s professional leagues were actively placing bets, and 371 of them had registered betting accounts. Additionally, 42 referees each wagered more than 1,000, while one referee wagered 18,227.
Elmali admitted placing a single bet five years ago but denied ongoing involvement. He has been temporarily removed from the national team.
Due to the referee suspensions, the TFF halted Third and Fourth Division matches for two weeks and asked FIFA for extra transfer-window days so clubs can rebuild squads.
Clubs and global bodies respond
Major clubs are increasingly pulled into the scandal. Besiktas confirmed that Ersin Destanoglu and Necip Uysal have been referred to the PFDK but said they believe in their innocence.
Galatasaray acknowledged that Eren Elmali and Metehan Baltaci are under investigation and pledged to follow the process “meticulously”.
UEFA has contacted the TFF about the probe, while Interpol is assisting with cross-border betting analysis.
Possible match-fixing under review
Prosecutors are examining whether betting activity may have influenced match outcomes, including suspected manipulation attempts in two third-tier matches in 2023 and 2024, Reuters said. Under Turkish law, match manipulation carries penalties of 1–3 years, rising to 5–12 years if linked to organised crime.
The scandal comes as sports leagues worldwide face rising concerns over betting behaviours. The NBA recently launched a broad review into its policies following high-profile allegations involving Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.
Join the world’s biggest iGaming community with SiGMA’s Top 10 News countdown. Subscribe HERE for weekly updates, insider insights, and exclusive subscriber-only offers.
