Turkish Football Federation suspends 1,024 players and arrests eight. [Photo: Reuters]
In a major blow to Turkish football, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended 1,024 players and arrested 8 individuals in connection with an alleged betting scandal. The announcement came on Monday (November 11), sending shockwaves through the country’s sports community.
The TFF’s action comes shortly after it suspended 149 referees as part of the same investigation. The suspended players belong to multiple divisions, including 27 from the top-tier Super Lig, highlighting the scale of the crisis. Among those arrested is Murat Ozkaya, chairman of Eyupspor, a club that plays in the Super Lig.
According to the TFF, the suspensions were a precautionary move as investigations continue into widespread illegal betting activities. The players reportedly participated in betting, violating the country’s strict sports integrity rules.
The federation said in a statement, “Due to the precautionary transfer of 1,024 football players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK), negotiations have been initiated urgently with FIFA to grant a 15-day transfer and registration period in addition to the 2025–2026 winter transfer period, only at the national level, for clubs to complete their squad deficiencies.”
This move suggests that many clubs are now struggling to fill team positions following the sweeping suspensions.
The 27 suspended players from the Super Lig reportedly include members from leading clubs Galatasaray and Besiktas. The involvement of these top clubs underlines how deep the issue runs within Turkish football’s professional system.
The TFF’s internal probe began after irregularities in betting patterns were detected across several matches. Early investigations revealed that hundreds of referees and players had connections to betting accounts.
The TFF has reached out to FIFA, the world’s governing football body, to approve temporary changes to the transfer window to help affected clubs. However, FIFA has not yet issued any statement or taken action on the federation’s request.
This silence from FIFA has created uncertainty about how the suspension will impact the ongoing season and the country’s football calendar.
In response to the deepening scandal, the TFF has suspended all second and third-tier leagues for two weeks. Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu described the incident as a “moral crisis in Turkish football.”
Before the arrests and suspensions, the league’s internal audit found that 371 of 571 active referees had betting accounts, and around 152 were actively gambling.
The scandal is being described as one of the largest in Turkish football history. With hundreds of players and referees implicated, experts warn that the credibility of the sport in the country is at stake.
Analysts say that the TFF’s swift response is aimed at restoring public trust and preventing further manipulation of match results. The ongoing investigation may lead to lifetime bans for players and referees found guilty of betting violations.
As Turkish football reels from the crisis, fans and clubs alike are left questioning the integrity of recent matches — and wondering how deep the corruption runs.
