Soccer players from Galatasaray and Besiktas are among 1,024 players suspended by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) as part of an investigation into betting.
Galatasaray defender Eren Elmali was pulled from Turkey’s squad preparing to play World Cup qualifying games against Spain and Bulgaria this month due to his alleged involvement in the case.
Elmali, a regular in this season’s Champions League, was named alongside Galatasaray team-mate Metehan Baltaci, while Besiktas players Necip Uysal and Ersin Destanoglu are also listed.
A TFF statement detailed players who have been identified as having bet on football and who have been referred to the country’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK).
Besiktas said in a statement two of their players had been referred to the PFDK and that they had “full faith” that the pair would be cleared of wrongdoing.
A statement from Galatasaray said they would “meticulously monitoring this sensitive process”.
Galatasaray player Elmali posted on his Instagram stories on Monday night: “I want to make it clear that my name is included in this file because of a betting transaction made about five years ago involving someone other than my own team. Since then, I have neither bet nor had any connection to this matter.”
In total, 27 players in the Turkish Super Lig, the country’s top flight, have been suspended, with 77 players included from the second division 1. Lig.
Matches across the top two divisions will continue despite the suspensions, although the third and fourth tiers have been suspended for two weeks.
The TFF has requested to FIFA, world football’s governing body, to grant its club an additional 15-day transfer and registration period, in addition to the upcoming winter transfer window, to enable clubs to address their squad shortages. UEFA is also in contact with the TFF on the matter.
Last month, the TFF suspended 149 match officials following their alleged involvement in a betting scandal. Suspensions between eight and 12 months had been imposed on 149 officials, while investigations continue into three referees.
The scandal was first reported on October 27, when TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu announced at a press conference in Istanbul that 371 of the current active 571 match officials in Turkish football have betting accounts.
Of those 371, it was stated that 152 actively gamble.
Defending champions Galatasaray and Besiktas are two of Turkey’s biggest three clubs, alongside Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce. Between them, the three have won 60 of the 69 league titles.