WhatsApp Messages of Arrested Galatasaray Player Leaked

The illicit betting and match-fixing probe currently shaking Turkish football continues to escalate. WhatsApp communications obtained from the digital devices of arrested Galatasaray footballer Metehan Baltacı, who was detained as part of the investigation, have reportedly pulled high-profile names within the club into the vortex of allegations. According to claims made by the Turkish newspaper Sabah, Baltacı’s messages have triggered speculation of an internal review involving two additional prominent Galatasaray players.

🚨 Prosecutors Scrutinize Digital Evidence

The comprehensive “Betting and Match-Fixing in Football” investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, has already resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals, including Galatasaray’s Metehan Baltacı, Fenerbahçe’s Mert Hakan Yandaş, and former Adana Demirspor President Murat Sancak.

As prosecutors delved deeper into the suspects’ electronic devices, new dimension to the probe emerged. Specifically, WhatsApp exchanges recovered from Metehan Baltacı’s phone are alleged to have raised questions about other team members.

The Sabah Report: Barış Alper Yılmaz and Abdülkerim Bardakcı Under Scrutiny

The Sabah report alleges that two high-profile Galatasaray players mentioned in Baltacı’s messages and reportedly brought under review are star athletes Barış Alper Yılmaz and Abdülkerim Bardakcı. The article claims Baltacı shared a betting slip prepared by a friend via an illegal betting site in a WhatsApp group, adding a text that read, “They deleted it from Eren, Apo, and Barış, and added it to mine.”

This statement has fuelled widespread speculation that the aforementioned footballers may have been aware of or involved in the betting activities.

⚽ Baltacı’s Defense: “Banters” and a Fine for Coupon Submission

In his testimonies to the prosecutor’s office and police, Metehan Baltacı claimed that the controversial WhatsApp messages were merely “commentary and banter exchanged among friends.”

Key points from Baltacı’s defense include:

• Illegal Betting Claim: Baltacı categorically denied engaging in any transactions on illegal betting sites or having anyone place bets on his behalf. He stated that the “Holigan bet” message found on his device was simply an image sent by a friend.

• Legal Betting: He admitted to opening a membership on a legal betting site in 2021 but emphasized that he never placed a slip involving any team he was actively playing for.

• TFF Sanction: Baltacı confirmed receiving an administrative penalty from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), but clarified that the sanction was issued only for submitting betting slips, not for any match-fixing allegations.

❗ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Issues Denial

Following the widespread public reaction to the Sabah report, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office was compelled to issue an official statement. The office firmly denied the news reports claiming that an investigation had been launched against Galatasaray players Barış Alper Yılmaz and Abdülkerim Bardakçı, stating that the information “does not reflect the truth.”

However, the office confirmed that the investigation continues to deepen based on new digital evidence gathered from Baltacı’s devices.

This news comes after the TFF previously imposed bans on players, including a 45-day ban on Eren Elmalı and a 9-month ban on Metehan Baltacı, for betting violations, amplifying the ongoing debate about integrity in Turkish football.