Turkish federation suspends 448 officials amid betting probe
In a packed press conference on Friday, the Federação Turca de Futebol (TFF) announced the provisional suspension of 448 current and former club officials, a move tied to a five‑year betting investigation that has rocked Turkish football, including Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan and Besiktas vice‑president Hakan Daltaban.
Scope of the suspensions
The list of 448 names spans both active and former executives, with Ertugrul Dogan named as the president of Trabzonspor – the club of Salah and Fabinho – and Hakan Daltaban identified as the vice‑president of Besiktas Istanbul. The disciplinary committee said the individuals placed bets while holding office during the past five years.
Approximately 171 of those suspended held positions in clubs competing in the Super Lig, Turkey’s top football division, underscoring the breadth of the probe across the Liga. The TFF stressed that all affected parties must now appear before its disciplinary committee.
Earlier betting sanctions
In October of the previous year, the TFF’s disciplinary body suspended 102 players, 25 of them from the First Division, with bans ranging from three to twelve months. Two Galatasaray players – Eren Elmali and Metehan Baltaci – were among those punished.
Earlier investigations also led to sanctions against 149 referees and the imprisonment of 21 individuals, including 17 judges and Murat Ozkaya, president of Eyupospor, a Super Lig club.
Der TFF statement highlighted that the betting scandal has been ongoing since last year, when the federation first alleged that 152 referees had placed illegal bets. Subsequent inquiries saw more than 1,000 players from various leagues suspended for the duration of the investigations.
Amid the turmoil, Turkey suffered a 1‑4 defeat to Italy in the UEFA Nations League, a reminder that the national side competes while domestic football grapples with the crisis.
The latest wave of suspensions adds to a series of disciplinary actions that have already affected referees, players and club officials, deepening concerns over the integrity of Turkish football.