Turkish football has been in a state of shock since Monday, when the president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed that 152 of the 571 active referees are suspected of involvement in illegal betting activities. Particularly alarming is the fact that seven referees and 15 assistant referees who work in the Süper Lig are among the suspects.
“One referee alone placed 18,227 bets,” TFF President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoglu told a press conference. “We are determined to rid football of any trace of corruption. We will make no exceptions.”
The scale of the scandal suggests systematic, organized structures. The revelations also suggest a lack of sufficient oversight of Turkey’s referees and call into question the credibility of the professional game in the country.
Exploiting amateur soccer,
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Long bans or even jail sentences possible
During his press conference, the TFF boss stressed that the federation had initiated disciplinary proceedings against the referees allegedly involved without delay. TFF statutes provide for bans of between three months and one year – and in cases of particularly serious violations, an official could face a lifetime ban.
Particularly serious is the suspicion that some referees may have bet on matches they officiated, an offence that could also be closely linked to an allegation of match-fixing. Should this be confirmed, those involved would stand to face not only lifetime bans from football, but also prison sentences of between 18 months and four and a half years.
Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu is president of the Turkish Football FederationImage: Hakan Burak Altunoz/Anadolu Agency/picture alliance
“We have started with the referees, but my board and I are also conducting our own internal reviews with the relevant government institutions,” Hacıosmanoglu added. “We will announce the results of this work shortly.”
No disruption to Süper Lig
Despite the allegations, legal experts currently see no grounds for annulling results or further action affecting league tables. Nevertheless, the current season could be disrupted if a large number of referees were to be suspended. In that case, the TFF could call in foreign referees to ensure that the season can continue without disruption.
“The fact that this is coming to light is a hopeful development,” said Sadettin Saran, president of Istanbul club Fenerbahce. “But it is crucial that this information is transparently disseminated without delay.”
Fenerbahce Sadettin Saran described the fact that the scandal had been uncovered as “hopeful”Image: Agit Erdi Ulukaya/Anadolu Agency/imago images
Report: Clubs and players also being investigated
“We view this initiative, led by Mr. Hacıosmanoglu, as a significant turning point for Turkish football,” fellow Istanbul outfit Galatasaray said in a press release. Besiktas issued a similar statement: “The results of the investigation could mark a new beginning for clean football.”
Meanwhile, the betting scandal in Turkish football appears to be widening. The broadcaster Haberturk, citing judicial sources, reported that clubs and players are also under investigation. The report put the number of players under investigation at 3,700.
The scandal clearly demonstrates how vulnerable football is to financial interests and a lack of oversight. Much is at stake for Turkish football – not only in terms of sporting success, but also its credibility and international reputation.
Both football’s global governing body FIFA and its European counterpart, UEFA, have said that they are closely monitoring the situation.
This article was originally published in German.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding