Turkish police detain 32 suspects in widening football betting probe
Turkish authorities have detained 32 individuals, including several club executives, as part of an escalating investigation into alleged match-fixing and illegal betting across the nation’s professional leagues.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrests on Friday following a coordinated police operation.
Those apprehended are suspected of placing wagers on matches involving their own clubs, with some allegations involving bets on opposing teams.
Security forces conducted raids across 10 provinces to locate the suspects, while efforts continue to find one individual still at large.
Widespread corruption crackdown
Authorities have not yet disclosed specific details regarding the identities of those detained or their club affiliations.
This latest operation represents a significant expansion of the crackdown on corruption within the country’s football pyramid, reaching as high as the Super Lig.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has already taken strict action, previously suspending 149 referees and assistants for betting-related offences.
Numerous figures, including club chairmen and commentators, have faced questioning as prosecutors cast a wide net over the sport.
International players implicated
The scale of the scandal became apparent in November when the governing body suspended more than 1,000 players.
Galatasaray defender Eren Elmali, a Champions League regular earlier this campaign, was among the high-profile names disciplined.
The 25-year-old released a statement explaining his involvement after being withdrawn from the national squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Bulgaria.
Elmali admitted via social media to placing a bet approximately five years ago on a fixture that did not involve his team at the time.
Lower leagues paused
Metehan Baltaci, a teammate of the full-back at the Istanbul giants, was also included on the list of 1,024 players referred to a disciplinary commission.
While the top two divisions have continued scheduled play, the severity of the allegations forced a two-week shutdown of the third and fourth tiers.