Operation Against Club Executives for Illegal Betting: 17 Referred to Court

An operation has been launched in Turkey targeting 19 executives from professional football clubs suspected of engaging in illegal betting activities. The investigation, coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, focuses on violations of Law No. 6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Irregularity in Sports, specifically concerning match-fixing and betting fraud.

Investigators analyzed betting data from 2020 to 2026, focusing on referees, executives, and players within professional football clubs. The findings indicated that some club executives placed bets on matches involving their own clubs, specifically favoring opposing teams or betting on goal outcomes and player-specific markets. These suspicions were further supported by financial data obtained from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).

Based on the evidence, an arrest warrant was issued for 19 suspects working in various clubs. A simultaneous operation was initiated on Friday morning, primarily in Istanbul. The probe revealed that these executives allegedly placed bets on matches where their own teams were playing, betting on outcomes that benefited rival teams or involved specific goal counts.

Of the 19 individuals detained, 17 have been referred to the courthouse. The identified executives include individuals associated with clubs such as Adana Demirspor, Adanaspor, Altay, Altınordu, Balıkesirspor, Bandırmaspor, Beşiktaş, Bodrumspor, Boluspor, Erzurumspor, Galatasaray, Gençlerbirliği, and Karaman FK. The investigation continues to uncover the extent of illegal betting within professional Turkish football.