Point Shaving & Fixes ·
Turkish Federation Said 152 Referees Were Actively Gambling
In October 2025, the federation said it would refer those found to have bet on football matches to its disciplinary board.
On October 27, 2025, Turkish Football Federation president İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said the federation would take disciplinary action against referees found to have bet on football matches. At a press conference in Istanbul, he presented figures from a federation investigation: Of 571 active referees in Turkey’s professional leagues, 371 had betting accounts and 152 were actively gambling.
The distinction mattered. Holding an account was the broader finding; those found to have bet would be referred to the federation’s disciplinary board. “They will be referred to the disciplinary board and face the necessary penalties in accordance with our regulations,” Hacıosmanoğlu said. None of the officials was named.
The probe drew on data from state institutions, and its findings covered five years, Hacıosmanoğlu said. The referees worked across Turkey’s four professional divisions, from the Süper Lig to the TFF 3rd League. Among the 152 were seven elite referees and 15 elite assistant referees, as well as officials in lower categories.
The activity varied sharply. Hacıosmanoğlu said 42 referees had each bet on more than 1,000 football matches, while one had placed 18,227 bets. Others had bet only once. The announcement did not identify the people behind those figures.
TFF rules prohibit match officials, players and coaches from betting. Under Article 57 of its disciplinary code, those found guilty of betting on football matches face bans of three months to one year from officiating or other football-related activities. Hacıosmanoğlu said the disciplinary board would begin taking action immediately; no penalties were announced at the press conference.
“As a federation, we started by cleaning up our own backyard,” Hacıosmanoğlu said. “If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever dirt there is.”
Sadettin Saran, president of Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe, responded with dismay but welcomed the disclosure. “This is both shocking and deeply saddening for Turkish football,” he said. “But the fact that it is coming to light is a hopeful development.”