Turkish Football Federation Slams Moral Crisis Amidst Referee Betting Scandal
A shocking probe into corruption among Turkish football officials has culminated in the suspension of 149 referees and assistant referees. The TFF, Turkey's governing body for football, has imposed bans ranging from eight to 12 months on those found guilty of betting activity.
An investigation spanning five years revealed that 371 out of 571 match officials had betting accounts, with a staggering 152 actively engaging in gambling. Notably, some officials placed enormous wagers - one individual was found to have bet on over 18,000 matches. This disturbing revelation has raised serious concerns about the integrity and structure within Turkish football.
The TFF's president, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, strongly emphasized that this issue is fundamentally rooted in ethics and highlighted the need for better regulation. He underscored the importance of fair play and the prevention of match-fixing, adding that he would step down as federation head if even one referee had to endure pay issues.
Turkey's top football clubs - Besiktas, Trabzonspor, and Fenerbahce - have issued statements reacting to the findings, viewing this development as an opportunity to rebuild trust in Turkish football.
A shocking probe into corruption among Turkish football officials has culminated in the suspension of 149 referees and assistant referees. The TFF, Turkey's governing body for football, has imposed bans ranging from eight to 12 months on those found guilty of betting activity.
An investigation spanning five years revealed that 371 out of 571 match officials had betting accounts, with a staggering 152 actively engaging in gambling. Notably, some officials placed enormous wagers - one individual was found to have bet on over 18,000 matches. This disturbing revelation has raised serious concerns about the integrity and structure within Turkish football.
The TFF's president, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, strongly emphasized that this issue is fundamentally rooted in ethics and highlighted the need for better regulation. He underscored the importance of fair play and the prevention of match-fixing, adding that he would step down as federation head if even one referee had to endure pay issues.
Turkey's top football clubs - Besiktas, Trabzonspor, and Fenerbahce - have issued statements reacting to the findings, viewing this development as an opportunity to rebuild trust in Turkish football.