Fenerbahçe Presidential Candidate Gives Up Stake in Major Betting Company Tuttur

Fenerbahçe presidential candidate Sadettin Saran has taken a decisive step ahead of the club’s upcoming extraordinary congress by giving up his shares in Tuttur, one of Turkey’s largest licensed betting platforms. The move comes as part of compliance with regulations that prohibit football club presidents from having direct ties to betting companies.

What is Tuttur?

Founded in 2009, Tuttur is among the biggest legal betting operators in Turkey. Operating under the supervision of Spor Toto Teşkilat Başkanlığı, the company offers betting markets across football, basketball, tennis, and hundreds of other sports.

• It holds an estimated 15%+ market share in Turkey’s regulated online betting industry.
• With millions of annual users, Tuttur plays a major role in the legal betting ecosystem, paying taxes and operating transparently under state monitoring.

Unlike illegal offshore betting platforms, Tuttur is considered a legitimate and regulated player in the Turkish gambling market.

Clearing the Way for the Presidency

The candidate Sadettin Saran officially submitted 500 delegate signatures to the High Council of Fenerbahçe, confirming his candidacy. Shortly after, he applied to Spor Toto to formally give up his shares in Tuttur.

By doing so, he has removed one of the biggest obstacles to his presidency bid, ensuring compliance with both Turkish law and Fenerbahçe’s internal regulations.

Previous Controversy: Illegal Betting Ad Case

The name of the candidate had previously been linked to a lawsuit over illegal betting advertisements. Media outlets under the Saran Group were accused of broadcasting ads for offshore gambling sites. While direct responsibility was never proven, the incident remained a topic of debate for years.

Now, his decision to relinquish all ties to Tuttur is seen as an effort to completely cut his association with betting and enter the Fenerbahçe presidency race with a clean slate.

What Does This Mean?

This move:

• Aligns with the club’s rules and ethical standards,
• Removes potential “conflict of interest” debates,
• And signals a focus on transparency and integrity ahead of the elections.

As Fenerbahçe heads into a decisive election period, this step may strengthen the candidate’s standing among supporters seeking a leader free from commercial controversies.

Was There Any Need for This Step?

Looking at Tuttur’s structure, it becomes clear that the company does not set or manipulate betting odds on its own. In Turkey, all odds are determined centrally by İddaa’s official risk management team, and licensed companies like Tuttur operate merely as digital retailers that present these odds to players.

From this perspective, the candidate’s decision to relinquish his shares is largely symbolic, since there was technically no real conflict of interest in the first place.