Summary: In October 2025, a comprehensive audit by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) uncovered a wide-reaching betting scandal within Turkish football refereeing. The investigation is still ongoing; this page is updated as new developments emerge.
How Did the Scandal Come to Light?
According to reports, the investigation originated from a suspiciously high volume of bets placed on a match between Ankaraspor and Nazillispor in which not a single shot was on target. That suspicious activity triggered an investigation process lasting roughly a year and a half.
On September 11, 2025, the TFF handed disciplinary penalties to two club presidents and 18 players based on the initial findings of that investigation. But the real bombshell came a few weeks later.
All 571 Referees Audited
On October 27, 2025, TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu announced the results of an audit covering all 571 professional referees active at every level in Turkey. The audit found:
- 371 referees held a betting account,
- Of those, 152 referees had actually placed bets,
- One referee was found to have placed bets 18,227 times.
The announcement was described by many TFF and club officials as a "turning point" for Turkish football.
The Disciplinary Process and Penalties
The disciplinary process expanded rapidly after the scandal broke. On October 28, 2025, 152 referees were referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK). A similar referral followed for 1,024 footballers on November 10, 2025 — showing the investigation wasn't limited to referees, but also covered allegations that players had placed bets.
On December 16, 2025, the PFDK announced rulings for 218 players and 23 referees: penalties ranged from 45 days to 12 months of suspension from competitions. On December 26, 2025, additional individuals who had refereed within the past five years and were found to have bet on football were also referred to the PFDK.
In a separate development, a criminal investigation into the matter was also opened; a case filed with the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was transferred to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on jurisdictional grounds, and the two investigations were merged. On December 9, 2025, the TFF's Legal Counsel referred an additional 27 players and 22 referees to the PFDK over "betting," on top of the initial November referrals, and announced that coordination with the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office was ongoing regarding 20 more players.
149 Referees' Careers Officially Ended
On November 22, 2025, the TFF Arbitration Board (the federation's internal appeals body) issued a final ruling on 149 referees found to have placed bets: 67 of these referees had their appeals rejected, and 82 had not appealed at all. As a result, all 149 referees received final bans of 8 to 12 months — a length that, given active refereeing age and the league calendar, effectively ends their careers in practice. During the same period, similar rulings (45 days to 12 months) were applied to some of the 1,024 players referred to the disciplinary board.
On November 16, 2025, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation would not be limited to the names reported by the TFF (371 betting accounts, 152 active bettors) and could "systematically expand based on the evidence obtained." Prosecutors are also examining referees' assets, connections, and whether illegal bets from abroad were placed on matches they officiated.
Indictment Prepared: 52 Suspects, 5 in Custody
On February 5, 2026, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against 52 suspects in the investigation into betting and match-fixing allegations in football; 5 of them will stand trial in custody. Club executives are also named in the indictment: former Ankaraspor president Ahmet Okatan, club president Mehmet Emin Katipoğlu, and Nazillispor president Şahin Kaya are named on charges of "facilitating betting" and match-fixing. Zonguldakspor is listed as an "aggrieved party" in the case file, while Ankaraspor and Nazillispor are listed as financially liable. Once the indictment is accepted, the court that will hear the case and the date of the first hearing will be determined; this page will be updated as developments become clear.
On February 14, 2026, a notable appeal ruling came from the Arbitration Board: referee Batuhan Mirhat Duyak's 8-month ban was overturned entirely, on the grounds that "the disciplinary instructions in effect at the time the betting took place did not cover this act" — meaning a legal gap was identified in the disciplinary instructions in force on the date of the offense. In the same ruling, the ban of a referee in a similar situation, Berat Çalışır, was upheld. This ruling shows the process hasn't concluded identically for every referee — appeals can turn on technical details in the wording of the instructions.
Why Does It Matter?
This scandal shows just how widespread sports betting can become in Turkey — not only among fans, but among the referees and players directly involved in matches. While betting itself (particularly through the licensed İddaa platform) is legal, active referees and players betting on their own sport violates TFF disciplinary regulations. Because it carries a risk of conflict of interest with the outcome of a match, the issue is treated with particular sensitivity.
As TrustedCasinoLab, we share news like this as a reminder that betting and real-money gaming, used without discipline, can have serious consequences — potentially affecting even professional careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have the bans on referees become final?
For 149 referees, yes — the Arbitration Board's ruling on November 22, 2025 finalized 8-12 month bans, with the right of appeal exhausted. But the process isn't fully closed: on February 14, 2026, one referee's ban was overturned due to a gap in the wording of the disciplinary instructions, showing that similar appeals are being assessed case by case.
When does the trial start?
An indictment against 52 suspects (5 of them in custody) was prepared on February 5, 2026. As of this writing, the court's acceptance of the indictment and the date of the first hearing had not yet been finalized.
Does the scandal involve only referees?
No. The TFF also referred 1,024 footballers to the PFDK over betting, some of whom received bans ranging from 45 days to 12 months. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has also stated the investigation could expand to cover club executives and names not reported by the TFF.
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