Turkish football has been rocked by a major betting scandal, with 147 football officials reportedly handed 45-day suspensions as authorities intensify efforts to address gambling-related misconduct within the sport.
The disciplinary action has raised concerns over integrity and accountability in Turkish football, particularly the importance of ensuring that officials involved in matches remain free from conflicts of interest.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed that its Professional Football Disciplinary Board imposed the suspensions on Tuesday after reviewing cases involving 448 current and former club officials accused of betting while holding positions within football organisations.
Among those sanctioned was Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan, whose club competes in Türkiye’s top-flight Süper Lig. All 147 individuals are prohibited from carrying out football-related duties throughout their suspension.
However, the disciplinary board cleared the remaining 301 individuals, determining that there were insufficient grounds to impose penalties. The investigation covered officials who had served clubs in Türkiye’s top two divisions during the previous five years.
The latest sanctions form part of a wider crackdown following a betting scandal that emerged last year. Earlier investigations had already resulted in suspensions for 149 referees and 1,024 players, as the TFF continues strengthening oversight of betting activities within Turkish football.
