Turkiye’s Football Federation (TFF) has launched disciplinary proceedings after hundreds of professional match officials were found to hold betting accounts, in what could become one of the country’s biggest sporting scandals.
TFF Başkanı Hacıosmanoğlu: “Profesyonel liglerde 571 aktif hakemin 371’inin bahis hesabı var.
152’si aktif olarak bahis oynuyor.” pic.twitter.com/znrUWLXZuK
— Boşuna Tıklama (@bosunatiklama) October 27, 2025
A five-year investigation revealed that 371 of 571 referees had betting accounts, with 152 actively gambling. Of those, 42 were found to have placed bets on more than 1,000 football matches, and one official reportedly made 18,227 wagers.
TFF president İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said the probe included seven referees and 15 assistants from the top two divisions, along with dozens from lower tiers. “If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever dirt there is,” he told reporters in Istanbul.
The officials implicated will be referred to the TFF disciplinary board and could face up to a year-long suspension under federation rules. According to FIFA’s Code of Ethics, referees caught betting risk fines of up to 100,000 Swiss francs (£94,000) and bans of up to three years from all football-related activities.
TFF Başkanı ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu hakemler ve futbolcuların bahis oynaması üzerine temizlik başlatmış. Galatasaray’a karşı algı yapmaya kalkmayın yine. Temiz eller operasyonunu ilk başlatın, hesapları inceleyin diyen Erden Timur’du. Unuttuysanız paylaşalım pic.twitter.com/yqAJ2XnihO
— Derin Galatasaray (@DerinGSMeclisi) October 27, 2025
The TFF confirmed that findings have been shared with FIFA and UEFA. The investigation was conducted with the assistance of state authorities and covers referees from various divisions, including “classified” officials operating below the top leagues.
The revelation has intensified debate about integrity in Turkish football, long troubled by claims of bias and poor officiating standards. In recent seasons, the federation has even brought in foreign referees to handle Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties and key fixtures.
Top Turkish clubs reacted swiftly. Beşiktaş said the findings “could mark a new beginning for clean football,” while Trabzonspor described it as “an historic opportunity to rebuild justice.” Fenerbahçe president Sadettin Saran called the development “both shocking and deeply saddening,” but added that “the fact it is coming to light is a hopeful development.”
The disciplinary board is expected to begin hearings in the coming weeks.
