102 Soccer Players Implicated In Turkish Betting Scandal

Turkish soccer has always been a home of scandals and bombastic insanity, but the last few years have been some of the craziest yet. The latest news should change soccer in Turkey forever, and replace the usual bombastic antics with cold, hard reality as of now.

The Turkish Crackdown

Turkey’s Football Federation (the TFF) has suspended an incredible 102 professional players from play as part of an investigation into rampant illegal betting across the nation’s soccer divisions. Of those banned, 25 are from the top-tier Süper Lig, including from its biggest teams, and 77 are from the second division.

The suspension ranges from 45 days to 12 months, depending on the case. Notable names include Eren Elmalı, who plays for Galatasaray, the biggest team in Turkish soccer. He received a 45-day ban after admitting to placing a bet several years ago. Metehan Baltacı was suspended for nine months. That pales in comparison to Alassane Ndao from Konyaspor. He got the longest suspension of all (12 months).

What Sparked the Crackdown

This is part of a wider gambling investigation that initially focused on referees. Before this, the TFF suspended 149 referees and assistant referees for similar violations. According to the TFF, 371 of 571 active referees held betting accounts, and 152 were actively placing bets.

When accounting for both amateur and pro divisions, 1,024 players from all levels have now been referred to the TFF’s Professional Disciplinary Board. This shows how widespread the issue may be.

Reaction & Fallout

TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu has publicly called the scandal a “moral crisis” for Turkish football. While the affected players are banned from matches, many are still allowed to train. Lower-tier matches (third and fourth divisions) have been suspended for two weeks while the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, Turkish prosecutors have issued detention warrants for 21 different individuals, including 17 referees and a top-flight club chairman, as investigations into “abuse of office” and match manipulation.

The Bigger Picture

This is a major moment in Turkish soccer, both for the scale of the betting among players, but it also exposes deep issues within the Turkish soccer system. If the investigation leads to corrupt individuals being thrown out and harsh punishment for players, it could reshape the sport from the ground up in Turkey.

Clubs face a set of new challenges from these rulings, along with having to look at a whole new landscape for Turkish soccer. Such as being short on players, dealing with reputational damage, and navigating a long and complex disciplinary process. For fans and stakeholders, this scandal could be a turning point for integrity in Turkish soccer.