Turkish authorities imprisoned 20 individuals, including top-level soccer players, who were implicated in an illegal gambling scandal.
The latest development comes after more than 1,000 soccer players were suspended by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) early last month.
Key Takeaways
- Forty-six individuals were detained last week as part of the investigation.
- One player competed for Champions League side Galatasaray.
- The TFF could arrest and imprison more, depending on its investigation.
The 20 arrestees included players in the Süper Lig, Turkey’s top division for professional soccer. The TFF said on Tuesday that more individuals could face the same fate as the investigation continues.
According to state-run news company Anadolu, two of the arrested players were Galatasaray’s Metehan Baltaci and Fenerbahçe’s Mert Hakan Yandas. Those two clubs, along with Beşiktaş, are the most popular in Turkey. Galatasaray also qualified for the UEFA Champions League, a competition comprising the top teams in Europe.
Former Adana Demirspor president Murat Sancak was also arrested.
“For years, the problems of Turkish football have been swept under the carpet,” TFF Chairman Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu told a press conference. “Such disgraceful decisions have been made, such crimes covered up, and the sole responsibility for our current situation is a lack of will.”
The chairman also confirmed that more legal action will be brought against perpetrators, if appropriate, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
"The data hasn't yet arrived,” he said. “We want the public to know that we will take appropriate action when it does.”
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The pleas of the accused
The gambling scandal covered several Turkish soccer leagues and included current and former players, referees, club officials, and more individuals.
A total of 1,024 players, including 27 from the Süper Lig, were referred to a disciplinary commission.
During a Monday hearing, Baltaci told a court that he wagered on a few matches when he was a youth team player and had not bet on games since being promoted to the first team, Anadolu reported.
Another Turkish news publication, Sabah, said that Yandas claimed he was not involved in any illegal gambling on soccer matches.
Cumhuriyet, another newspaper, reported that Sancak claimed he did not have a betting account and never gambled on matches.
A sweeping scandal
Last week, Turkish prosecutors had 46 individuals detained as part of the probe. That included members from top-level clubs, presidents, commentators, players, and more.
The reach of the scandal is difficult to believe. According to the TFF, 371 of 571 active officials had at least one betting account, and 152 of them had bet on soccer. That included seven head officials and 15 assistant referees in the Süper Lig.
Conviction of illegal gambling is likely to result in a permanent ban from TFF clubs and events, along with jail or prison time and/or a fine.
