Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Monday, October 27, 2025, 4:29 p.m. / Updated Monday, October 27, 2025, 4:41 p.m.
The president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, revealed that of the 571 referees working in Turkey's professional leagues, from top players to assistants, 371 have betting accounts and 152 are active gamblers!
According to Article 57 of the TFF Disciplinary Regulations, these referees could be suspended from matches or banned from refereeing for a period between three months and one year!
In a press conference held in Istanbul, the head of the TFF said that he had given orders to the Disciplinary Committee to take the necessary measures against the officials involved: “They will soon be brought before the investigative bodies and will receive the appropriate punishments according to our regulations”Haciosmanoglu said.
Ten referees with over 10,000 bets, and one of them is in the “top” with 18,227 tickets placed!
The daily Mundo Deportivo writes that “in Turkey, football clubs frequently file complaints after matches about wrong decisions frequently made by referees. Occasionally, there are debates about the appointment of foreign referees for matches in domestic competitions.
Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu dropped the bombshell today about corruption in Turkish football
In February 2025, the Slovenian Slavko Vincic officiated the Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, becoming the first foreign referee in the last 55 years to officiate at a match of such magnitude in Turkey.
According to Gazetefutbol, ten referees would have placed more than 10,000 bets, according to federation sources, and one of them is in the “top” with 18,227 tickets placed. In Turkey, betting is prohibited for referees.
Haciosmanoglu promised that “today will be a milestone for Turkish football, a zero moment. According to the report revealed to the media, the TFF has been working closely with government authorities for months to find out the extent of possible acts of corruption and betting manipulation in Turkish football.
We started the TFF cleanup from our own backyard. But we also self-evaluate, starting with me and my colleagues in the leadership of the federation. And we will publish the results soon
Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF)
