Turkish football authority is grappling with a major integrity crisis. This comes after an investigation found that hundreds of referees had engaged in betting activities.
Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu announced that 371 of 571 active referees held betting accounts. Among them, 152 had placed wagers. The findings, drawn from state-backed data, have been described as exposing “deep-rooted corruption” within the sport.
The list reportedly includes seven top-tier referees, 15 elite assistants, and 36 lower-division officials. Some of these individuals placed thousands of bets. Notably, one referee made over 18,000 wagers across several years.
Disciplinary proceedings have begun under Law No. 6222, which governs sports integrity offences. The TFF has submitted its findings to FIFA and UEFA. Both organizations are expected to be briefed on the case.
Haciosmanoglu called the revelations a turning point for Turkish football. He pledged to “clean what is dirty and restore integrity to our game.” The federation also plans to launch a nationwide referee training program. This initiative aims to rebuild trust and raise officiating standards.
Authorities continue to analyse betting records for potential links to match-fixing or criminal activity.
