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A court in Ankara ordered the detention of Ozkaya and seven others on Monday following an investigation into widespread betting activity across Turkey’s professional football leagues, according to state-owned Anadolu Agency.
Mass Player Suspensions Across All Divisions
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) referred all 1,024 players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK) under Article 57, which prohibits betting on football matches. Among the suspended players are 27 from the Super Lig, including athletes from champions Galatasaray and Istanbul rivals Beşiktaş.
The TFF has requested FIFA approval for a 15-day national transfer window to allow clubs to replace suspended players. Fixtures in Turkey’s second and third divisions have been postponed for two weeks, while Super Lig and First League matches continue as scheduled. The TFF board is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to address the crisis.
Referee Betting Scandal Precedes Player Investigation
The player suspensions follow the TFF’s decision earlier this month to suspend 149 referees and assistant referees after internal investigations revealed widespread betting among match officials. An internal probe found that 371 of 571 active referees in Turkey’s professional leagues held betting accounts, with 152 confirmed to have actively placed wagers.
The investigation revealed serious breaches of integrity standards. One referee allegedly placed 18,227 bets, while 42 referees were found to have wagered on more than 1,000 matches each. Sports betting is legal in Turkey, but strict prohibitions exist for referees under both FIFA and UEFA codes. Registering a betting account constitutes a breach of integrity for match officials.
TFF President Calls Situation a “Moral Crisis”
TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu addressed the severity of the situation in a public statement.
“This is not just a disciplinary issue—it is a moral crisis in Turkish football. The integrity of our sport has been compromised and we must act decisively to restore trust.”
The federation has formally notified FIFA of the situation and is seeking emergency measures to prevent disruption of league competitions. The extraordinary TFF board meeting is expected to outline additional measures to address the betting scandal and implement stronger integrity protocols moving forward.
The investigation represents one of the largest betting scandals in Turkish football’s modern history, with implications for match integrity across multiple divisions. Eyupspor was not immediately available for comment. FIFA has not yet responded publicly to the TFF’s request for an emergency transfer window.
Source: Turkish Football Federation / Anadolu Agency
