Local media is widely reporting on the new controversy that has shaken the Turkish football community. Turkish law enforcement agencies have launched a large-scale investigation into betting on prohibited online games.
According to reports, approximately 600 footballers working in various leagues and clubs across the country will be summoned for questioning. They are suspected of participating in illegal bookmaking sites.
According to the Turkish publication, the international police organization Interpol has also expressed interest in the investigation. According to the investigation results, some players, coaches, and club managers may have participated in betting operations through online platforms operating in Albania, Bulgaria, and Northern Cyprus.
Although the exact names have not yet been disclosed, sources say that representatives of some Super League clubs are also under investigation.
This event became a continuation of the series of bookmaking-related controversies observed in Turkish football in recent years. Earlier, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) conducted a special investigation and temporarily suspended 149 referees with bookmaking accounts.
According to the organization's decision, they were disqualified from competitions for a period of 8 months to 1 year. It was noted that this action is aimed at ensuring transparency in sports and restoring confidence in football.
At the same time, the Istanbul Prosecutor General's Office issued an arrest warrant for 18 suspects as part of a criminal case involving arbitrators. During the investigation, it was revealed that the president of a Super League club was among those detained.
According to local sources, these criminal cases are exposing the circulation of large sums of money through illegal bookmaking systems in the country. Investigators are currently studying the direction of the money flow, foreign schemes, and the activities of group criminals.
Turkish law enforcement agencies consider this situation a "crime that tarnishes the honor of football." The Ministry of Sports and the country's federation have begun to strictly monitor all participants to ensure cleanliness and legality in football.
Interpol's intervention also gave the investigation an international character - which aroused great interest not only in Turkey but also in the European football community.
Currently, the interrogation process is ongoing, and the results of the investigation and possible measures of punishment are expected to be known in the coming weeks.
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