Turkish Football Federation Launches Investigation On Referee Betting Scandal

‎Turkey’s Football Federation (TFF) will take disciplinary action against referees found to have placed bets on football matches.

‎TFF President, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu revealed that an internal investigation uncovered widespread involvement in betting among match officials.

‎According to data from state institutions, 371 of the country’s 571 active referees held betting accounts. Of those, 152 were found to be actively gambling, prompting the federation to launch further disciplinary measures.

‎”As a federation, we started by cleaning up our own backyard,” Haciosmanoglu told a press conference in Istanbul.

‎”Among those found to have betting accounts were seven top-level referees, 15 top-level assistants, 36 classified referees, and 94 classified assistants.”

‎He said that some referees had placed a staggering number of bets, with one referee betting 18,227 times, and 42 referees having bet on more than 1,000 football matches each. Others were found to have placed bets only once.

‎Haciosmanoglu said the federation’s disciplinary board would begin taking action immediately.

‎”They will be referred to the disciplinary board and face the necessary penalties in accordance with our regulations,” he said, adding that the findings cover five years under Turkey’s sports law.

‎Under Article 57 of the TFF disciplinary code, anyone found guilty of betting on football matches faces a ban from officiating or other football-related activities.

‎The ban ranges from three months to one year.