Turkish Football Federation suspends 149 referees over betting accusations
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) on Friday suspended 149 referees accused of betting on football matches.
In a statement, the TFF said its disciplinary committee had imposed suspensions ranging from eight to 12 months, adding that investigations are still ongoing into three other referees.
An internal investigation by the federation into 571 referees across Turkish professional leagues revealed that 371 of them had sports betting accounts, while 152 were actively involved in betting activities.
“Refereeing is a profession of honour,” TFF President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said on Thursday. “Anyone who tarnishes that honour will never again be involved in Turkish football.”
According to the federation, ten referees placed more than 10,000 bets, with one of them making as many as 18,227 wagers. Another 42 referees each placed bets on over 1,000 football matches.
However, the TFF did not specify whether any of the suspended referees were suspected of betting on matches they officiated.
Meanwhile, the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office has also launched a separate investigation into the matter.
