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.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia under their Mecca joint defence agreement, which will initially be headed by a Pakistani secretary-general for three years, the three countries said in a joint statement on Monday.
Turkey has prepared a plan for the safe passage of grain via the Black Sea and is in contact with both Russia and Ukraine regarding it, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday.
Top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will gather in Istanbul on Monday for a first committee meeting under the joint defence accord that they signed this month, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.