Eight Arrested As Turkish Football Betting Scandal Deepens

Turkish authorities have arrested eight people, including the chairman of top flight club Eyüpspor, as part of a widening investigation into illegal betting within the country’s football circles.

According to state run Anadolu Agency, a court on Monday ordered the detention of Eyüpspor president Murat Özkaya and seven others linked to the probe, which has already shaken the foundations of Turkish football. Eyüpspor, who compete in the Super Lig, have not yet issued a statement on the matter.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced that 1,024 players across various divisions have been suspended and referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK) for investigation. Among them are 27 Super Lig players, including members of champions Galatasaray and Besiktas.

The federation said it is engaging FIFA to approve a special 15 day national transfer and registration window, allowing clubs to reinforce squads hit by the mass suspensions.

“Due to the precautionary transfer of 1,024 football players to the PFDK, negotiations have been initiated urgently with FIFA to grant a 15 day transfer and registration period in addition to the 2025–26 winter transfer period,” the TFF said.

The scandal follows an earlier suspension of 149 referees and assistants after an internal investigation revealed widespread gambling among match officials. The TFF disclosed that 371 of 571 active referees held betting accounts, with 152 actively gambling. One referee allegedly placed over 18,000 bets, while 42 others wagered on more than 1,000 matches each.

TFF president İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu described the revelations as a “moral crisis in Turkish football,” prompting the federation to call an extraordinary board meeting for Tuesday afternoon to assess the situation.

The TFF has also suspended matches in the second and third-tier leagues for two weeks as investigations continue.

FIFA has yet to comment on the case or the TFF’s request for an emergency transfer period.