Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 46 individuals, including 29 professional footballers, as part of a widening investigation into illegal betting on football matches, the Istanbul prosecutor’s office announced on Friday.
Among the suspects is Metehan Baltacı, a player for Galatasaray © Mena Today
Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 46 individuals, including 29 professional footballers, as part of a widening investigation into illegal betting on football matches, the Istanbul prosecutor’s office announced on Friday.
According to prosecutors, 27 players are suspected of betting on matches involving their own teams, a serious violation that has sent shockwaves through Turkish football.
Among the suspects is Metehan Baltacı, a player for Galatasaray, the reigning three-time Turkish champion. The identities of the other 26 players have not been disclosed.
Another high-profile suspect is Mert Hakan Yandaş, a player for Fenerbahçe, who is accused of placing bets on several matches through an intermediary.
Authorities say 35 of the 46 sought individuals have already been detained. Arrest warrants were also issued for the presidents of two lower-division clubs accused of attempting to manipulate the outcome of a third-division match during the 2023–2024 season.
The investigation, led by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office, has already rattled the country’s football establishment. Earlier in November, six referees and the president of Eyüpspor, a first-division club, were jailed as part of the same case.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF), which has vowed to “clean up” the sport, suspended nearly 150 referees last month after they were found to have bet on matches. In addition, 25 top-division players and nearly 1,000 players from the second, third, and fourth divisions have received bans of up to twelve months for similar violations.
The rapidly expanding scandal marks one of the most extensive integrity crises Turkish football has faced in years.
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