Turkish Football Federation Investigates 152 Referees for Betting Scandal

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) is currently conducting a major investigation revealing widespread sports betting among referees in Turkey's professional football leagues. Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu disclosed that out of 571 active referees, 371 held betting accounts, with 152 actively placing bets, including seven top-tier referees. Some referees placed thousands of bets, with one individual betting over 18,000 times, and many betting on more than 1,000 matches each over a five-year period. The TFF has pledged to take disciplinary actions, including potential bans from officiating or football activities, and has shared findings with FIFA and UEFA to uphold the sport's integrity. This scandal highlights ongoing concerns about corruption and the need for comprehensive clean-up efforts within Turkish football, starting with referees but also calling on clubs to follow suit. These revelations come amid a broader historical context of sports gambling scandals, such as the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox case, underscoring the persistent challenges posed by gambling-related corruption in sports.