The TFF (Turkish Football Federation) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation found that they were betting on football matches.
The federation’s disciplinary committee imposed suspensions ranging from 8 to 12 months on these professionals for their involvement in betting activities. Investigations into three others are still ongoing.
The TFF published the full list of names on its website and said the penalties were determined considering the “seriousness of the act”. No further details of ongoing investigations or cases were provided.
TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu said the federation’s investigation — based on data from state institutions — revealed that 371 of the 571 referees active in Turkey’s professional leagues had betting accounts, and 152 of them were actively betting.
“There is a moral crisis in Turkish football. There is no such thing as structure. The fundamental problem at the heart of Turkish football is ethical,” Haciosmanoglu told CNN.
“Ask any referee. If there is even one who has not received his pay, I will resign as president of the federation. In fact, we improved their salaries last year and again this year,” he added.
Haciosmanoglu stated that some referees made an impressive number of bets, with one of them betting 18,227 times. Another 42, according to him, bet on more than 1,000 football matches each.
