Osman Sağlam: “Betting and Match-Fixing Operations Will Continue”

Istanbul Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Osman Sağlam has said that investigations into betting and match-fixing in Turkish football will continue after a short pause linked to the football calendar.

Speaking at a sports law symposium organized by the Beşiktaş Lawyers Association, Sağlam said the operations had not been stopped, but temporarily slowed down due to the approaching end of the domestic leagues and the international football schedule.

“There is the World Cup, and the leagues are about to end. That is why we have paused the operations for a while. Once the leagues are over, the operations will continue rapidly,” Sağlam said.

Operations Expected to Resume After the Leagues End

Sağlam’s remarks indicate that Turkish authorities are preparing to move forward with new steps in the ongoing football-related betting and match-fixing investigations.

He stressed that the pause should not be seen as the end of the process. According to Sağlam, the authorities will continue their work once the current football season is completed.

“We paused because of the national matches, but we will continue the implementation,” he said.

“They Say They Did Not Know Betting Was an Offence”

Sağlam also referred to the defence given by some athletes during the process. According to him, some players claimed they did not know that betting could be considered an offence or a prohibited act until action was taken against them.

“We have encountered the defence from athletes saying, ‘I did not know this was an offence.’ We think that the desire to make easy money has pushed morality into the background,” Sağlam said.

His comments suggest that the authorities see the issue not only as a criminal investigation, but also as a wider problem concerning sports ethics and professional responsibility.

Nearly 500 Club Officials Identified

One of the most striking parts of Sağlam’s speech concerned club officials. He said that investigations covering Turkish football down to the third tier found that nearly 500 club officials continued to place bets even after the operations had begun.

“In our investigation covering football down to the third division, we found that nearly 500 club officials continued to place legal bets even after the operations. Administrative sanctions and penalties do not seem to stop some people. Officials from the big four clubs are also among them,” Sağlam said.

This statement shows that the investigations are not limited to players or referees. Club officials are also under scrutiny.

However, Sağlam’s use of the phrase “legal betting” is important. For ordinary citizens, betting through licensed platforms may be legal. But for people involved in football, including players, referees and club officials, betting on football can still create serious disciplinary and ethical issues under sports regulations.

“The Real Issue Is Not Betting, But Morality”

Sağlam said the problem cannot be solved only through prosecutors, courts or disciplinary punishments. In his view, Turkish football needs a broader change in awareness.

“The real problem in Turkish sports is not a betting problem, but a moral problem. If you ask how this can be solved, I cannot say that there is one clear solution. It is very difficult to solve a problem that so many people are involved in through a single prosecutor’s investigation or a single court decision. I believe we have no choice but to create awareness,” he said.

His remarks point to a wider debate in Turkish football over education, supervision, ethical standards and institutional responsibility.

Players, Referees and Club Officials Under Review

Sağlam’s statements suggest that the ongoing investigations cover several layers of Turkish football, including players, referees and club officials.

The process is expected to gain momentum after the end of the domestic leagues. No official list of individuals, clubs or referees has been publicly announced in connection with the latest remarks.

For that reason, the issue remains sensitive from a legal perspective. Until there are formal charges, disciplinary rulings or court decisions, it is important not to present any person or club as guilty.

Investigations Will Remain on the Agenda

Sağlam’s comments make clear that the betting and match-fixing investigations in Turkish football are likely to remain on the agenda in the coming period.

His statement that “the operations will continue rapidly once the leagues are over” is being interpreted as a sign that new developments may follow after the season ends.

The key message from Sağlam’s speech is that the authorities see the issue as more than a betting scandal. They view it as a structural and ethical problem affecting different parts of Turkish football.