Turkey Orders Arrest of Top-Tier Soccer Players Amid Match-Fixing Scandals
Turkish Authorities Crack Down on Soccer Match-Fixing
Turkey is intensifying its crackdown on illegal betting within its professional soccer leagues. Recently, prosecutors have ordered the detention of 46 individuals, covering a wide range of roles including top-division players, club executives, sports commentators, and others suspected of involvement in match manipulation.
Raids Target Leading Soccer Figures and Officials
In a significant wave of enforcement, several key figures from Turkey’s top soccer leagues have been implicated. On November 10, six referees and the president of Eyupspor, a Super Lig club, were placed under pre-trial detention. In an official statement from the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office, it was disclosed that 27 detained players are suspected of placing bets on games involving their own teams. Among them is Metehan Baltac3 a player from reigning champions Galatasaray, who had previously served a nine-month suspension linked to betting allegations.
Also detained is Murat Sancak, former president of Adana Demirspor, alongside several other players. To date, law enforcement has taken custody of 35 individuals, while five suspects are believed to have fled abroad. Further investigation revealed that two club presidents from third-division teams are accused of attempting to manipulate the outcome of a recent match during the 20232024 season, a game that attracted attention for its lack of any scoring attempts by either side.
Rising Number of Suspensions in Turkish Football
Authorities have escalated their efforts against illegal gambling as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdo1fan9s broader campaign to clean up the sport. These efforts are reflected in actions by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), which has suspended over 1,000 players across various tiers of the sport.
Recently, the Federation conducted one of its largest purges by temporarily banning 102 players from the top two leagues. While high-profile cases have garnered media attention, the bulk of suspensions affect players from Turkey’s lower divisions, with over 900 players from the third and fourth tiers punished with suspensions ranging from 45 days up to 12 months.
This crackdown has notably impacted smaller clubs, many of which are now struggling to field teams. For instance, A1Fr3 Spor has effectively lost its entire roster, with 17 players suspended. The club now relies predominantly on younger players from its junior squads as it navigates these challenges.
