Turkish football is reeling after a dramatic escalation in the nation’s biggest referee betting scandal, as prosecutors on November 7, 2025, issued detention warrants for 21 individuals—including 17 referees and the president of a top-tier club. Early-morning raids swept through Istanbul and 11 other provinces, snaring at least 18 suspects for questioning, according to the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office. The probe, which has widened at breakneck pace, now threatens to shake the very foundations of Turkey’s beloved football leagues.
The heart of the investigation centers on allegations of “abuse of office” and “influencing the outcome of a match.” The 17 referees, whose identities remain shielded by their initials, are suspected of activities that could undermine the integrity of the sport. Murat Ozkaya, president of Turkish Super Lig club Eyupspor, and Fatih Sarac, former owner of Kasımpasa, were also detained for questioning, according to multiple media reports. The involvement of such high-profile figures has only added fuel to the fire, raising urgent questions about just how deep the roots of this scandal might go.
This isn’t Kasımpasa’s first brush with controversy. The club was placed under trusteeship in September 2025 after a separate corruption investigation targeted its former holding company, Can Holding. That episode now looks almost tame compared to the current storm engulfing Turkish football.
The scandal burst into public view just last week, when the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) took the extraordinary step of suspending 149 referees and assistant referees. The sanctions, which range from eight to twelve months, were unprecedented in their scope and severity. It’s not every day that nearly a quarter of the nation’s officiating corps is sidelined in one fell swoop. The federation’s action followed a government agency’s bombshell finding: 371 of Turkey’s 571 active referees held accounts with betting companies.
“The reputation of Turkish soccer is built on the sanctity of the effort on the field and the unwavering integrity of justice. Any act that betrays these values is not merely a violation of the rules, but a breach of trust,” TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu declared in a statement. He didn’t mince words, adding that the probe had uncovered referee involvement in “betting activities” which were “completely incompatible with the spirit of football.” Hacıosmanoğlu described the situation as “not merely a violation—it is an abuse that wounds consciences and poisons justice.”
The numbers unearthed by investigators are staggering. Of the 371 referees with betting accounts, 152 allegedly placed bets on soccer matches. This group includes seven top-level referees and 15 top-level assistant referees—individuals entrusted with the highest-profile matches in the country. But the most jaw-dropping statistic? Ten referees reportedly placed bets on more than 10,000 matches each over a five-year period. One referee is alleged to have placed bets on a mind-boggling 18,227 games. That’s not a typo. The sheer volume of this activity has sent shockwaves through the Turkish sporting world, raising the specter of conflicts of interest and potential match manipulation.
Authorities have moved swiftly. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the raids and detentions were coordinated across multiple provinces, underscoring the seriousness with which the government is treating the allegations. For many fans, the question now is whether this is just the tip of the iceberg—or the beginning of a thorough housecleaning that could restore faith in the game.
In a joint statement, several referees pushed back hard against the accusations. They called the charges “outrageous” and insisted that none had ever placed a bet on a match they officiated. Some even claimed their betting activity dated back only to their amateur days, long before they reached the professional ranks. Despite these denials, the breadth of the investigation and the willingness of authorities to target both referees and club executives signal a determination to root out corruption wherever it may lurk.
For Kasımpasa, the latest developments are a double blow. Already under trusteeship due to prior corruption allegations, the club now finds itself at the center of a fresh scandal. Eyupspor, too, faces unwanted scrutiny with its president among those detained. The reputational damage could linger for years, regardless of the eventual legal outcomes.
So, how did Turkish football reach this crisis point? The betting scandal’s roots stretch back at least to late October, when the TFF’s sweeping suspensions signaled that something was seriously amiss. The involvement of a government agency in tracing betting accounts marked a new level of investigative rigor. When it emerged that not only lower-tier officials but also elite referees and assistants were implicated, the scale of the problem became impossible to ignore.
“Recent investigations uncovered referee involvement in betting activities which were completely incompatible with the spirit of football,” Hacıosmanoğlu lamented. “It is an abuse that wounds consciences and poisons justice.” The TFF president’s words have resonated with fans and players alike, many of whom are still struggling to process the magnitude of the scandal.
As the investigation continues, Turkish football faces a crossroads. Can the sport recover from such a massive blow to its credibility? Will new safeguards and stricter oversight be enough to prevent future lapses? For now, the only certainty is that the authorities are leaving no stone unturned. The coordinated raids, the high-profile detentions, and the harsh suspensions all point to a zero-tolerance approach.
Meanwhile, the football community waits anxiously for answers. The outcome of the probe could have far-reaching implications—not just for those directly involved, but for the entire structure of Turkish football. Fans, players, and honest officials are all hoping that the truth, whatever it may be, comes to light swiftly and transparently.
For now, the investigation is ongoing, and the fate of dozens of referees and club officials hangs in the balance. Turkish football’s integrity may have taken a hit, but the determination to confront the crisis head-on could ultimately pave the way for a cleaner, fairer game. As the dust settles, all eyes remain fixed on the next moves from prosecutors, the TFF, and the clubs at the heart of the storm.
