Turkish Football Betting Scandal Explodes as 46 Arrested, 29 Players in Focus
5 December 2025
What happened
Authorities in Istanbul arrested 46 people on Friday as part of a wide-ranging investigation into illegal match betting in Turkish football. The operation targeted players, referees, and club officials.
The public prosecutor's office said 29 of the detained individuals are professional players, with 27 suspected of betting on matches involving their own teams.
Among those named is Metehan Baltacı, a Galatasaray player who had already been suspended for nine months earlier this month amid betting-related allegations.
The probe also led to six referees being held in custody on November 10, together with the president of Ayspor, a club in the second or third tier in Turkey.
Names of the remaining 26 players were not released, but Turkish media reported that Mert Hakan Yandaş of Fenerbahçe was betting via another person\'s account.
By October, the Turkish Football Federation had suspended more than a thousand players, including 25 in the top division, with sanctions ranging from 45 days to 12 months. The only foreign detainee was Senegalese winger Alassane Ndour of Konyaspor, who received a 12-month ban.
Most detainees come from the third and fourth divisions. The federation had earlier suspended around 150 referees for betting on matches; all have since been dismissed.
Impact on Turkish football
The investigation rattled Turkish football and triggered a broad crackdown aimed at restoring integrity in the sport. Officials said the probe is ongoing and additional charges and arrests could follow as the inquiry advances.
To date, more than a thousand players have been suspended, including 25 from the top division, with sanctions ranging from a few weeks to a year. The federation also suspended around 150 referees in October for betting on matches; all have been dismissed.
Punchline 1: If bets were goals, some players would be top scorers—too bad it’s illegal to count them as points.
Punchline 2: In this league, the whistle blows and the odds swing—time for ethics to make a comeback tour.
