Over 1,000 Footballers Suspended in Turkey Amid Betting Scandal, League Start Postponed

^{Pictured: İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, President of the TFF}

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has temporarily suspended 1,024 footballers found to be involved in betting activities, The Guardian reports.

Most of the violations were uncovered in the lower divisions — the Third, Second, and First Leagues — accounting for roughly 1,000 players in total. Even the elite Super Lig was not spared: 27 players, including representatives from Beşiktaş and Galatasaray, have been banned from competition.

All accused players have been temporarily suspended, with final rulings to be issued by the federation’s Disciplinary Board.

The sweeping suspensions have already dealt a serious blow to the championship — some lower-league clubs, having lost 15 to 18 players each, are now struggling to field full squads.

As an emergency measure, the TFF has postponed the start of the Second and Third Leagues by two weeks. The federation also appealed to FIFA to open a special domestic transfer window, allowing clubs to rebuild their rosters.

TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu described the situation as a “moral crisis of Turkish football.”

The investigation has also affected the refereeing community: earlier, 149 referees were suspended after authorities discovered active betting accounts in their names.

Gambling Park notes that Istanbul prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 21 individuals accused of organizing match-fixing schemes and participating in illegal betting — among them 17 referees.