Turkish Football Shaken by Historic Betting Scandal Involving 1,024 Players

Turkish football has been rocked by what is now considered the biggest ethical scandal in its history. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced that 1,024 professional players across various leagues were found to have engaged in betting activities and have been referred to the disciplinary board. The list includes numerous Süper Lig players, while the scope of the investigation has extended to club executives — most notably Eyüpspor President Murat Özkaya, who has been arrested, signaling the scale of the crisis.

On November 10, 2025, the TFF issued an official statement that sent shockwaves through the football community. Following an internal investigation led by the federation’s Legal Department, it was confirmed that a total of 1,024 players had placed bets. These individuals were referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) under Article 57 of the federation’s Disciplinary Code. The scandal affects clubs in all major tiers of Turkish football and has sparked serious concerns about the structural integrity of the sport. The case has also revealed a troubling overlap with referees and executives.

TFF: “This Is a Moral Crisis”

In its public statement, the TFF emphasized that the issue was not simply a breach of sporting rules, but a full-blown ethical crisis. The federation confirmed that betting records had been uncovered for 1,024 players currently active in professional leagues, and all were referred to PFDK under the applicable disciplinary regulations.

An important note in the statement indicated that 47 of the individuals had only been found to place bets on a single occasion. These cases will be reviewed separately, pending further evidence.

Player Breakdown by League (Total: 1,024 Players)

The distribution of the referred players by league is as follows:

27 from the Süper Lig,
77 from the 1st League,
282 from the 2nd League,
629 from the 3rd League, and
9 from amateur divisions.

This makes a total of 1,024 players now facing disciplinary action from the Turkish Football Federation.

Clubs with the Highest Number of Players Under Investigation

Based on media reports, the clubs with the most players referred for betting violations are:

Diyarbekirspor (18 players),
Ağrıspor (17),
Erbaaspor (17),
Yalova FK (16),
Bingölspor (15),
Mazıdağı Fosfat Spor (15),
Yozgat Belediyesi Bozokspor (14),
Artvin Hopaspor (13), and
Beykozspor (13).

Most of these clubs compete in the third division or the regional amateur leagues, raising further concerns about the normalization of betting culture at the grassroots level.

Süper Lig Players Named in the Official List

Among the 27 Süper Lig players listed in the TFF’s disciplinary report are players from Turkey’s top clubs, including Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor.

Galatasaray

• Metehan Baltacı

• Eren Elmalı

Beşiktaş

• Ersin Destanoğlu

• Necip Uysal

Trabzonspor

• Salih Malkoçoğlu

• Boran Başkan

All six are either starters or part of the main squad rotation. As of now, none of their clubs have issued an official statement, but sources suggest these players may be sidelined pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.

Players Respond: “We Have No Connection to Betting”

Some of the players implicated in the investigation have publicly denied the allegations. Beşiktaş teammates Necip Uysal and Ersin Destanoğlu both issued written statements maintaining their innocence and vowing to defend their reputations.

Necip Uysal: “I Have Never Been Involved in Betting”

Veteran midfielder Necip Uysal released a statement on social media, saying:

“I have never had any involvement with betting in my life. I have never gambled, never opened a betting account, and never even considered it. I have worked hard for years to protect my name and career. I will take every legal step necessary to clear my name. I ask Beşiktaş fans and all football followers to have no doubt about my integrity.”

Ersin Destanoğlu: “This Is a Character Assassination”

Goalkeeper Ersin Destanoğlu also denied the claims via Instagram, calling the allegations “baseless and defamatory”:

“The TFF’s statement dated 10.11.2025 includes my name in a list of players allegedly involved in betting. These accusations are entirely false and unfounded. Throughout my career, I have upheld the values of fair play and legal integrity. I will not allow myself to be judged publicly based on fabricated allegations and will pursue all available legal remedies. I trust that the truth will come out and that justice will prevail.”

More Statements Expected from Clubs and Players

While only a few players have responded publicly so far, the list includes names from dozens of clubs across multiple tiers. It is expected that both clubs and individual players will issue official responses in the coming days as pressure mounts from media and fans. Particularly in the Süper Lig and 1st League, clubs are being urged to clarify their positions both legally and publicly.

Executives and Referees Also Under Investigation

The scandal has spread beyond the pitch. As the investigation widens, referees and club executives are also facing legal scrutiny. Most notably, Eyüpspor President Murat Özkaya has been arrested as part of the ongoing probe.

Murat Özkaya Arrested on Betting-Related Charges

Özkaya was taken into custody in Istanbul and formally arrested after being linked to suspicious financial transactions tied to illegal betting operations. He was among eight individuals remanded in custody, and the allegations suggest involvement beyond club activities.

17 Referees Detained, Three Arrested

Judicial authorities have also acted against referees. Seventeen were detained, and at least three — Erkan Arslan, Nevzat Okat, and Yakup Yapıcı — were formally arrested. Financial records obtained by investigators revealed that one referee alone had processed 6,380 betting transactions, totaling nearly 10.5 million TL in activity over a four-year period.

Shocking Figures from TFF’s Internal Review

According to TFF President’s remarks, a sweeping internal audit revealed:

• 371 of Turkey’s 571 active referees had opened betting accounts.

• 152 of them had placed bets while actively officiating matches.

• Some transactions are suspected to be linked to matches they directly supervised.

These findings suggest a deep-rooted problem that stretches across multiple layers of Turkish football, leading to questions about oversight and accountability within the system.

What Comes Next? Disciplinary Process and Potential Sanctions

With the players now formally referred to PFDK, the disciplinary process is set to unfold over the next few weeks. The board is expected to review evidence, collect defenses, and issue rulings by early December.

Sanctions may include:

• Bans ranging from 3 months to 1 year,

• Fines,

• Suspension from top-tier leagues,

• And in extreme cases, revocation of FIFA licenses if regulatory violations are confirmed.

Especially for high-profile Süper Lig players, more severe penalties could be applied to set a precedent.

FIFA and UEFA are also monitoring the situation as part of their ethics oversight, though the TFF retains jurisdiction unless international violations are identified.

Legal Betting and the Bigger Picture

This unprecedented scandal has also reignited debate about the state of sports betting in Turkey. Interestingly, many of the players under investigation had accounts with licensed, legal betting platforms. This suggests that the ability to track and audit legal transactions helped authorities identify the violations.

However, experts warn that this may be only the surface. The illegal betting market in Turkey, particularly in lower leagues, is believed to be even larger and more opaque. Without regulatory oversight, these transactions go unmonitored — posing a threat not only to fair play but also to financial integrity.

Many now argue that further legalization and regulation of the betting industry could be the key to detecting and preventing such scandals. Transactions made through authorized, centralized systems allow for transparency, oversight, and accountability.

What began as a disciplinary announcement has now exposed systemic weaknesses in Turkish football. The response of players, clubs, and authorities in the coming weeks may well shape the future of the game.