An explosive crackdown on Turkish football erupted in Istanbul on Friday as prosecutors issued arrest warrants in a widening betting scandal that has rocked the sport from the terraces to the referees’ chambers. The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office said 46 suspects faced warrants, with 35 already detained in dawn raids. Among those detained were the chair of Ankaraspor, Antalyaspor’s vice-chair, and Adana Demirspor’s former chair, showing how deep the probe runs through multiple clubs.
Former referee and commentator Ahmet Çakar and current official Zorbay Küçük were also taken into custody, according to DHA. Investigations show at least one national youth international, Metehan Baltacı, had reportedly placed bets on his own team, while Yandaş allegedly bet via intermediaries. In several cases, prosecutors cited “suspicious financial transactions” on bank accounts, underscoring the complexity of the scheme.
Earlier this year, the Turkish Football Federation announced it was investigating more than 150 referees across professional leagues for allegedly betting on matches. The probe expanding to players, administrators, TV commentators and others reveals systemic vulnerabilities. The law criminalises manipulation of sports competitions and carries a penalty of one to three years, rising if the offence involves betting markets, officials, or impacts professional leagues.
Federation president Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu vowed to protect the sport from scandal and decay, signalling a renewed push to clean up Turkish football. The case raises questions about governance, transparency, and the controls around betting markets, with potential changes to leadership roles and refereeing oversight as investigations continue.