In a surprising twist that has raised eyebrows across the football world, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen made his debut for Turkish giants Galatasaray while wearing a jersey featuring an advertisement linked to an illegal betting site. The incident has sparked intense debate over the ethical responsibilities of top clubs and their sponsorship decisions.
A Historic Signing Shadowed by Controversy
Victor Osimhen’s transfer to Galatasaray was hailed as one of the biggest moves in Turkish football history, bringing global attention to the Süper Lig. But instead of making headlines solely for his performance, Osimhen’s first appearance was clouded by the club’s controversial sponsorship deal.
During the match, Galatasaray players took to the field with “meritking.news” printed across the back of their shirts. While it appeared to be a generic news website, investigations revealed that the domain was previously redirecting users to Meritking, a well-known illegal online gambling platform.
Galatasaray and Illegal Betting Advertisements
Galatasaray‘s appearance in the fifth week of the Turkish Süper Lig against Çaykur Rizespor, wearing jerseys displaying the advertisement of the website “meritking.news” on their backs, sparked widespread controversy. It was revealed that this sponsorship deal, which Galatasaray later suspended, was connected to Fedlan Kılıçaslan, a notorious figure known for operating illegal betting platforms.
Fedlan Kılıçaslan had previously been detained on November 24, 2023, during the “Sibergöz-8” operation targeting illegal online betting networks but was released. He had also faced legal proceedings related to other illegal betting sites such as Meritking.com and its derivatives, though the case ended without a final judgment.
Journalist İsmail Saymaz shed light on Kılıçaslan’s illegal betting empire and the ongoing investigations against him. Saymaz reported that Kılıçaslan’s operations spanned from Cyprus to Turkey, from Ukraine to Poland, with connections to the well-known Merit Hotel brand, which has also been monitoring the situation.
From Stadium Billboards to Jerseys
According to Saymaz’s column on HalkTV.com, Kılıçaslan expanded his promotional activities from stadium advertising boards to football jerseys and even to Istanbul’s taxis, including sponsorship deals with clubs like Balıkesirspor. Specifically, on August 31, Kılıçaslan advertised Meritking.news on the stadium billboards during the Adana Demirspor-Galatasaray match. Then, on September 14, during the Galatasaray-Çaykur Rizespor match, his brand appeared on the back of Galatasaray’s jerseys.
Galatasaray reportedly signed a $14,060,000 deal for two years, with half of the amount paid upfront. As the sponsorship agreement was suspended, questions arose about whether the club returned the funds.
Who is Irina Kuzmicova?
The website meritking.news was registered on June 23, 2024, and its domain is based in Northern Cyprus. The registrant is Irina Kuzmicova, a Ukrainian woman of Russian descent, who has no visible background in journalism. On July 8, 2024, Kuzmicova applied for three trademarks under the name “Merit King” with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Initially, meritking.news redirected visitors to the illegal betting site “Merit King,” which had been blocked by Turkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). This redirection was removed on September 7. Despite its appearance as a news portal, the site has no editorial team, commentary sections, or football-related coverage, yet still managed to sponsor Galatasaray.
Kuzmicova’s ties to Kılıçaslan are evident through shared contact addresses in Tampa, Florida, USA. Net Holding and Merit Tourism Investment and Management Inc. have filed legal complaints against Kuzmicova and related parties for brand infringement, demanding the closure of such sites and an investigation into who placed these advertisements on Galatasaray’s jerseys and Istanbul taxis.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Outcomes
Currently, Kılıçaslan is a fugitive, having relocated his base from Ukraine to Poland. His illegal betting sites remain operational, allowing him to continue profiting from this unregulated industry.
Regarding Galatasaray’s involvement with this illegal betting site, the Public Prosecutor’s Office concluded its investigation with a decision of non-prosecution (KYOK). The club had stated that the sponsorship agreement was made with approval from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and that they terminated the contract on September 30, 2024, following warnings.
Net Holding’s Reaction
Net Holding responded strongly to Galatasaray’s sponsorship deal, expressing disappointment and concern. In a statement signed by Hande Tibuk, a board member of Net Holding and chairwoman of Merit Tourism, the company emphasized that the “Merit” brand had been established through decades of investment and labor in Turkiye’s tourism sector.
Net Holding confirmed that meritking.news had redirected users to an illegal betting site twice (on August 7 and September 1, 2024) and had notarized this evidence, submitting it to the authorities, including Galatasaray, the TFF, and the Spor Toto Organization.
Galatasaray’s Image Tarnished
Despite the controversy and the formal suspension of the agreement, the images from the Rizespor match, where Galatasaray players wore jerseys displaying the meritking.news logo, remain on the club’s official website, leaving a lasting stain on the club’s century-old reputation.
This sponsorship not only exposed Galatasaray to severe criticism but also raised broader questions about ethics and governance in Turkiye’s sports industry. The incident remains a clear example of how illegal betting networks seek legitimacy through mainstream sports sponsorships, with football clubs at risk of becoming unwitting participants in these schemes.