21 Football Referees Detained in Turkey Over Major Betting Probe

A massive illegal betting investigation has shaken Turkey’s football world, as prosecutors ordered the detention of 21 referees, with 18 taken into custody so far. Two referees are reportedly abroad, while one could not be located.

The referees are accused of “influencing match outcomes” and “spreading misleading information”, according to a statement released by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Betting Accounts and Match-Fixing Allegations

The investigation was launched after allegations surfaced that several referees had betting accounts and placed wagers on matches. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the probe involves accusations of “misconduct” and “manipulating the results of sporting events.”

In addition to the referees, three other suspects have been detained under the same investigation:

• M.Ö., president of a Trendyol Süper Lig club,

• T.C., the former owner of another team, and

• M.F.S., a former association chairman.

They are all being investigated under Law No. 6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports for allegedly attempting to influence match results.

Statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office

The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the investigation was initiated following TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu’s October 27 statement claiming that “371 referees had betting accounts and 152 were actively betting.”

“Considering that referees are public officials, the value of betting activities was compared with their official income,” the statement said. “Claims of misconduct and match manipulation under the Turkish Penal Code and the Law No. 6222 have been taken into examination.”

The statement further noted that search and seizure operations were conducted in 12 provinces, targeting 21 suspects.

“Given the scale of football in Turkey, all evidence — for and against the suspects — will be collected with the utmost care,” it continued. “The ongoing judicial investigation by our Office and the administrative disciplinary inquiry conducted by the TFF are two separate processes that may lead to different outcomes.”

One additional suspect, identified as U.E., was also detained for allegedly “spreading false information to the public” by sharing manipulative social media posts related to the case.

Separate but Coordinated Investigations

The statement emphasized that TFF disciplinary actions and criminal proceedings may not always overlap:

“Some individuals under administrative review by the TFF may face no judicial charges, while others not investigated by the TFF could still face prosecution,” it noted.

Authorities assured the public that the investigation will continue in coordination with all relevant institutions, and warned against believing unverified social media claims.

“All allegations will be investigated thoroughly and without interruption. The public is urged not to trust unconfirmed information circulating online,” the Prosecutor’s Office concluded.