TLDR
- Turkey’s Football Federation referred 448 club officials to its disciplinary committee over betting.
- Trabzonspor’s president and Besiktas’s vice president are on the list.
- Current and former Galatasaray officials and three former Fenerbahce officials were also named.
- A day earlier, the head of Turkey’s refereeing body and six others were arrested in a separate graft probe.
- It was not immediately clear if the two cases are connected.
Turkey’s Football Federation has referred 448 club officials to its disciplinary board over alleged betting. The officials are accused of placing bets while holding roles at their clubs.
The announcement came a day after Turkey’s justice minister said the head of the country’s football refereeing body had been arrested. Six other people were also held as part of a separate graft probe.
It was not immediately clear if the two cases were connected.
Top Clubs Named in Betting List
The federation, known as the TFF, said the officials will be referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee. Its statement listed all 448 names.
According to the TFF, the individuals served as officials at clubs in the Super Lig and TFF 1 Lig during the 2026-2027 season. The federation said they were found to have placed bets while in office over the past five years.
The list includes several dozen names from Turkey’s top-flight clubs. Among them are the president of Trabzonspor and the vice president of Besiktas.
Several current and former Galatasaray officials were also named. Three former officials from Fenerbahce appear on the list as well.
All four clubs compete in the Super Lig, Turkey’s top division.
Referee Chief Held in Separate Graft Probe
The arrests were announced on Tuesday by Turkey’s justice minister. Seven people were held, including the head of the country’s football refereeing body.
According to Turkish media reports, prosecutors believe the suspects improperly influenced referee classifications and exams. They are also suspected of influencing match appointments.
The reports said this was allegedly done through document fraud and systemic intimidation.
It is not yet known whether charges will be filed against those held.
The TFF’s statement on the club officials referred to a betting scandal from last year. In that case, 149 referees were suspended over suspected involvement in illegal betting.
That earlier probe focused on referees. The new referrals reach officials in club boardrooms.
The latest action is the second wave of the federation’s betting investigations in about a year.
The Professional Football Disciplinary Committee is now set to review the cases of the 448 referred officials. Rulings have not yet been announced.
