Sports Betting Scandal Rocks Turkish Football – 371 Referees Linked to Betting Firms

A massive sports betting scandal has shaken Turkish football after an investigation revealed that 371 of the country’s 571 active referees hold accounts with betting companies, with 152 of them allegedly placing bets on football matches.

The revelation, announced at a press conference by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) at the Riva Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facilities, has sparked outrage and calls for urgent reform.

TFF President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu described the situation as a defining moment for Turkish football, vowing to purge the sport of corruption.

> “This is a turning point for Turkish football. We have worked with police and state authorities for months to uncover the extent of this corruption,” Hacıosmanoğlu said. “I promise that we will clean up Turkish football and restore its integrity. The clubs must also investigate themselves, including their players.”

According to the TFF, the findings stemmed from a months-long joint investigation involving law enforcement agencies, the federation, and professional clubs. The data was presented alongside senior TFF officials, including Deputy Chairman Mecnun Otyakmaz and board member Fuat Göktaş.

The breakdown of implicated officials includes:

7 Super League referees

15 Super League assistant referees

36 lower-division referees

94 lower-division assistant referees


The data further revealed that 10 referees had wagered on more than 10,000 football matches, with one individual betting on an astonishing 18,227 games. Another 42 referees reportedly placed bets on over 1,000 matches each.

While most of the betting was on foreign league matches, the TFF said it was still unclear whether any referees had bet on games they officiated, or if there was evidence of collusion among match officials.

Hacıosmanoğlu confirmed that disciplinary proceedings will begin immediately and that the findings have been shared with both FIFA and UEFA.

> “We are being investigated by state institutions ourselves,” he added. “These disciplinary actions are essential to restore clean and moral Turkish football. The results will be made public.”

The TFF also announced plans to accelerate the recruitment and training of a new generation of referees, with educational programmes to be launched in all 81 provinces and a specialised training initiative at Yeditepe University.

Hacıosmanoğlu concluded by urging unity across the football community:

> “This is a moment for everyone in Turkish football to stand together, to build an honest, fair, and moral foundation for the future.”