The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken sweeping disciplinary action, suspending 149 referees and assistant referees over betting scandal.
An extensive investigation uncovered widespread involvement of match officials in betting activities in the Turkish Football.
According to the TFF, the officials received bans ranging from eight to twelve months, depending on the severity of their offences, while investigations into three other referees are still ongoing.
The federation also published the full list of sanctioned officials on its official website.
The revelations come after a five-year probe found that 371 of 571 professional match officials in Turkey held betting accounts, with 152 actively gambling.
While some had placed only a few bets, 42 referees were found to have bet on more than 1,000 football matches, and one individual reportedly placed 18,227 bets.
Under TFF, FIFA, and UEFA disciplinary regulations, referees, like players and coaches, are strictly prohibited from engaging in any form of betting activity.
TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu described the scandal as evidence of a deep moral problem within Turkish football.
“There is a moral crisis in Turkish football. There is no such thing as structure.
The fundamental problem at the core of Turkish football is an ethical one,” Haciosmanoglu told CNN.
“Ask any referee if there is even one who has not received his pay — I will resign as federation president.
In fact, we improved their salaries last year, and again this year.”
No additional details of the ongoing cases were disclosed.
Following the announcement, several of Turkey’s top clubs reacted to the findings. Besiktas said the development “could mark a new beginning for clean football,” while Trabzonspor called it “an historic opportunity to rebuild justice in Turkish football.”
Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran added:
“This is both shocking and deeply saddening for Turkish football. But the fact that it is coming to light is a hopeful development.”
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