Turkiye orders arrest of top-tier footballers, officials in gambling probe

As part of a comprehensive investigation into insider betting that has roiled the country’s professional football leagues, Turkiye’s prosecutor’s orders the detention of 46 people, including 29 footballers from top-tier clubs, club presidents, commentators, and others.

27 of the players who were detained were allegedly involved in betting on games that took place against their own teams, according to a statement released on Friday by the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office.

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Metehan Baltaci, a former Turkish champion, was one of them, according to the statement. He had been given a nine-month suspension earlier this month as a result of the betting scandal.

Six referees and the president of Eyupspor, one of Turkey’s top Super Lig division clubs, were put in pre-trial detention on November 10 as a result of the investigation.

The other 26 players who were suspected of betting on their own teams were not identified by the prosecution, but Mert Hakan Yandas, who plays for Fenerbahce, a significant club in Istanbul, claimed they had made the wagers on someone else’s account.

Murat Sancak, the ex-president of Adana Demirspor, was also listed on the detention list, according to a report from the A Haber news channel. Additionally, there were a number of additional players listed.

None of the organizations mentioned could be reached for comment right away.

According to the prosecutor’s office, 35 of the 46 people named in the arrest order have been apprehended so far. According to the report, five people are known to be currently abroad.

According to the statement, two club presidents were among those who were “attempting to influence the outcome” of a game between their two third-division rivals in the 2023-2024 season.

According to Turkish media, neither team had even attempted to score a goal, which was where the investigation actually began, according to reports from newspapers in Turkey.

More than 1, 000 Turkish football players have been suspended by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), 25 of whom have been banned from the Super Lig, for a time frame of 45 days to 12 months.

Alassane Ndao, the Senegalese winger for Konyaspor, was the only foreigner to receive a 12-month suspension.

More than 900 people come from the third and fourth divisions, a majority of whom are from those divisions.