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Read Full BioThe Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended over 1,000 soccer players for violating betting rules. In addition, 21 have been arrested in the growing scandal, including 17 referees and Murat Özkaya, chairman of Super Lig club Eyüpspor.
The action comes as the country attempts to clamp down on illegal gambling among officials and players. Earlier this month, the TFF suspended 149 referees for placing bets on soccer matches. Subsequently, 17 referees have been arrested on allegations of abusing their duties and manipulating match results.
Özkaya has also been arrested in relation to illegal betting transactions, abuse of office, and match-fixing through his role as a club executive.
His club Eyüpspor has risen to the Super Lig since he was elected President in 2019. They won the TFF Second League in 2021 before claiming the TFF First League title in 2024, which secured their promotion to the Super Lig for the first time in their history.
In their first season in the top division, they finished in sixth place, surpassing expectations with emphatic home victories over some of the country’s best sides, champions Galatasaray, Besiktas, and Trabzonspor.
If the dramatic rise is found to be due to match-fixing, the club could be demoted to a lower division and fined heavily.
Turkish National Team Player Among Those Suspended
Of the 1,027 players suspended, over 900 are from the lower leagues. As a result, the authorities have postponed the TFF 2nd League and TFF 3rd League fixtures for two weeks.
The TFF published a full list of all the players on its website. A total of 27 players are from Super Lig sides, the top tier of Turkish football, including two from Galatasaray. The most high-profile is defender Eren Elmali, who has featured 20 times for the club this season, including in the UEFA Champions League.
Elmali has also made 20 appearances for the Turkish national team in his career, but has been forced to withdraw from the squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Bulgaria this week.
The 25-year-old posted a statement in response to being implicated in the scandal, claiming that the only bet he placed was five years ago, and it did not involve his own team.
He stated, “I want to clearly state that the reason my name appears in this file is due to a bet placed about five years ago on a match unrelated to my own team. Since that day, I have neither placed bets nor had the slightest connection to this matter.
“Football is not just a profession for me; it is a passion at the center of my life. I have always lived this passion with honesty, hard work, and the struggle I show on the field. Throughout my career, I have never behaved in any way contrary to football’s ethical principles, sportsmanship, or my club’s values.”
TFF President Vows to Clean Up Turkish Soccer
TFF President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu has led the investigations into betting among Turkish soccer players, club officials, and referees. Formerly the club President of Super Lig side Tranzonspor, Hacıosmanoğlu has said Turkish soccer is in a “moral crisis.“
Speaking before an audience of sports leaders, journalists, and federation officials on Tuesday, he declared, “We will not compromise on justice in football. Our mission is clear: to create a fair environment where every victory is earned, not manipulated.”
Since being elected earlier this year, Hacıosmanoğlu has promised sweeping reforms. His initiatives have been praised by UEFA, and the league has also benefited from a 15% boost in television revenues this season.
He added, “Our principles are fairness and transparency. We keep equal distance from every club. Football must be a center of peace, not chaos.”
Turkish soccer has long been plagued by allegations of corruption and violence. Under his leadership, the Turkish federation is positioning itself to host the 2032 UEFA European Championships along with Italy.
At the event on Tuesday, Hacıosmanoğlu cited the strides the country is making in improving its infrastructure to host such an event. He stated, “Our country has undergone a sports revolution. We now have stadiums that many nations envy. These are the guarantees of future success.”
