On Friday, Turkish prosecutors issued detention warrants for 21 individuals, including 17 referees and the president of a prominent football club, as part of an ongoing investigation into a betting scandal.
As stated by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office, at least 18 suspects were apprehended during early-morning raids conducted in Istanbul and 11 other provinces. The 17 referees, who were identified only by their initials, are under investigation for potential charges of “abuse of office” and “influencing match outcomes.”
Media outlets, including Cumhuriyet, reported that Murat Ozkaya, president of the Turkish Super Lig club Eyupspor, and Fatih Sarac, the former owner of Kasımpasa, are also being questioned as part of the investigation. Kasımpasa was placed under trusteeship in September following a distinct corruption probe involving its previous holding company.
The scandal came to light after the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees last week. TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu revealed that a government agency found that 371 out of 571 active referees had accounts with betting companies. Among these, 152 referees reportedly placed bets on football matches, including seven from the top tier and 15 assistant referees.
Haciosmanoglu further noted that 10 referees had wagered on over 10,000 matches each over a five-year span, while some only made a single bet. One referee allegedly placed bets on 18,227 games, raising significant concerns about the integrity of officiating within Turkish football.