Turkish FA Sends 108 Coaches to Disciplinary Board in Sweeping Betting Scandal
betting
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken one of its most far-reaching disciplinary steps in recent years after concluding a comprehensive investigation into illegal betting activities within professional football. According to the federation’s official announcement, 108 technical directors and technical staff members who served in Turkey’s professional leagues over the last five years were found to have placed bets during their active duty periods.
As a result of these findings, all identified individuals were provisionally referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) as of January 7, 2026, under Article 57 of the Football Disciplinary Regulations, which explicitly prohibits betting-related activities by individuals involved in football management and competition.
The move signals a strong message from the TFF aimed at protecting sporting integrity, transparency, and public trust at a time when betting-related controversies continue to challenge football authorities worldwide.
Investigation Covers Five Seasons of Professional Football
The betting inquiry was carried out internally by the TFF following detailed audits and monitoring mechanisms established within the federation. Officials confirmed that the investigation focused on technical directors and technical officers who had worked in professional leagues during the past five competitive seasons.
The federation stated that evidence gathered through regulatory monitoring systems and institutional reviews showed that these individuals violated betting prohibitions while holding official football duties, triggering mandatory disciplinary procedures.
In its statement, the TFF emphasized that the referrals were made with precautionary measures, meaning the individuals are temporarily restricted until the disciplinary process is completed.
Immediate Suspension From Official Duties
One of the most significant consequences of the decision is the temporary suspension from official football roles. Federation sources confirmed that all 108 individuals referred to the PFDK will not be allowed to take on any official duties—including coaching, match-day responsibilities, or technical roles—until the disciplinary process concludes.
The PFDK will now examine each file individually, assessing the scope of the violations and determining penalties in line with the disciplinary code. Possible sanctions under Article 57 include long-term bans, fines, and permanent exclusion from football-related activities, depending on the severity and nature of the offense.
An extensive list of Coaches and Technical Staff Named
The investigation encompasses a broad range of football professionals from various league levels. Among those referred to the PFDK are well-known figures and long-serving technical staff, including:
Savaş Yıldırım, Semih Tokatlı, Hakan Yılmaz, Serkan Ençetin, Gökhan Ünal, İlker Avcıbay, Murat Parlak, Taner Gürsoy, Adem Çağlayan, Taner Gülleri, Erdoğan Sarıuşak, Murat Sönmez, Ahmet Yurtsever, Bülent Yenihayat, Sercan Yıldırım, Muzaffer Taşkın, Can Güçer, Nuri Çolak, Mete Işık, Ergün Işık, İlhan Özbay, Volkan Erten, Mustafa Alper Avcı, Gürkan Ferhatoğlu, Şenol Demir, Görkem Öncü, Cüneyt Dumlupınar, Ayhan Bahar, Muhammet Yılmaz, Bayram Toysal, Engin Dursun, Gökhan Beklemiş, Murat Hacıoğlu, Rızvan Şahin, Uğur Kulaksız, İsmail Ertekin, Aykut Erdoğan, Ahmet Taşyürek, Sinan Durmuş, Erhan Çelik, Fuat Erarslan, Özgür Çetiner, Egemen Urhan, Mehmet Birinci, Hasan Uğur Kardal, Bayram Sevindik, Selahaddin Dinçel, Ramazan Kurşunlu, İbrahim Raif Albay, Onur Yeniyurt, Evren Şenel, Hasan Yüksel, Ümit Metin Yıldız, Selçuk Akçay, Kadir Kar, Mithat Çulcuoğlu, Fatih Serkan Albayrak, Eray Gülay, Mehmet Altıparmak, İbrahim Tolgay Kerimoğlu, Hakan Keleş, Ufuk Sarı, Bahaddin Güneş, Serdar Uygun, and Cemil Aktaş, among others.
The sheer scale of the list underscores the systemic nature of the issue, rather than isolated misconduct.
Why Betting Violations Matter in Football
Betting by coaches and technical staff is considered one of the gravest ethical violations in football, as it directly threatens the credibility of competitions. Individuals with inside knowledge of tactics, squad selection, injuries, or match preparation are strictly prohibited from engaging in any form of betting, even on matches they are not directly involved in.
Football governance experts warn that even small-scale betting can undermine competitive fairness, create conflicts of interest, and erode fan confidence. This is why most international football bodies, including FIFA and UEFA, enforce zero-tolerance policies on betting-related offenses.
TFF Signals Zero Tolerance Approach
By initiating precautionary referrals for all identified individuals, the TFF appears determined to demonstrate a zero-tolerance stance. Federation officials stated that the process would be handled with full legal rigor and without exception, regardless of an individual’s past status, league level, or professional reputation.
Observers note that the outcome of this case could set a precedent for future enforcement, potentially leading to stricter monitoring systems and expanded compliance education for football professionals.
What Happens Next?
The PFDK will now review the evidence files on a case-by-case basis. During this phase, the accused individuals will have the opportunity to submit defenses, after which final rulings will be issued. Until then, all precautionary measures remain in force.
The case is expected to attract significant attention within the Turkish football community, as it may reshape professional standards and disciplinary expectations across leagues.
As football increasingly intersects with global betting markets, the TFF’s decisive action reflects a broader effort to safeguard integrity and restore confidence in the game at all levels.