Turkey’s football federation (TFF) has announced sweeping disciplinary proceedings after uncovering that hundreds of match officials across the country’s professional leagues were engaged in gambling activities, including placing bets on football matches. The revelation follows a five-year investigation that has rocked the nation’s sporting community and raised deep concerns about the integrity of Turkish football.

Five-Year Probe Reveals Widespread Betting Among Officials

According to TFF President Ibrahim Ethem Haciosmanoglu, the inquiry — based on information gathered from state institutions — found that 371 out of 571 referees had betting accounts, with 152 actively placing wagers. Some officials reportedly made just one bet, while others displayed extreme patterns of activity. In one of the most staggering cases, an official was found to have placed 18,227 bets, while 42 referees had bet on over 1,000 matches each.

The list of those implicated spans various levels of Turkish football, including seven referees and 15 assistant referees from the top two divisions, as well as 36 classified referees and 94 assistants from lower tiers. Speaking during a press conference in Istanbul, Haciosmanoglu confirmed that all those involved would be referred to the TFF’s disciplinary board.

“They will be referred to the disciplinary board and face the necessary penalties in accordance with our regulations,” he said. “If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever dirt there is.”

The TFF President added that the organization had “started by cleaning up our own backyard” and that those responsible would be held fully accountable. The disciplinary actions will be carried out under Article 57 of the TFF’s Disciplinary Code, which allows for bans of between three months and one year for officials found guilty of betting on football.

Match officials, like players and coaches, are expressly prohibited from participating in betting activities under TFF Disciplinary Regulations as well as the rules of FIFA and UEFA. Beyond national sanctions, Article 27 of the FIFA Code of Ethics stipulates that referees caught betting could face fines of up to 100,000 Swiss francs (£94,246) and be barred from all football-related activities for up to three years.

Haciosmanoglu said the findings, which span a five-year period, will be handled in full accordance with these regulations. He emphasized that the probe was conducted to restore integrity and trust in Turkish football, which has been long plabbcgued by controversies surrounding officiating.

Reactions from Clubs and Commentators

The shocking revelation triggered immediate reactions from some of Turkey’s biggest football clubs. In a statement, Besiktas described the findings as something that “could mark a new beginning for clean football,” while Trabzonspor called the moment “an historic opportunity to rebuild justice in Turkish football.”

Sadettin Saran, the president of Fenerbahce, also expressed dismay but welcomed the transparency. “This is both shocking and deeply saddening for Turkish football,” he said. “But the fact that it is coming to light is a hopeful development.”

The scandal has shaken faith in refereeing to its core and prompted calls for drastic measures. BBC News Turkish journalist Burak Abatay described the incident as a “defining moment” for a sport already shadowed by disputes and occasional violence against referees.

For decades, officials in Turkey have faced criticism for their performance, but this marks the first time the problem has reached such depth and scale. Among those implicated are elite referees certified to officiate in the Super Lig, the country’s top division.

Prosecutors have confirmed that a formal criminal investigation into the matter began in April, leaving many questions unanswered — including whether any of the matches overseen by these referees were influenced by their betting activity or if they wagered on each other’s games.

Some commentators have gone so far as to suggest that league matches be suspended until the investigation concludes, arguing that honest referees are now operating under a cloud of suspicion. Others believe this could reignite discussions about bringing in foreign referees to restore credibility to domestic competitions.

Despite the ongoing controversy, the Turkish football calendar remains unchanged, with fixtures scheduled to continue. However, as Abatay observed, Turkish refereeing — and the public’s trust in it — “will never be viewed the same way again.”