Turkey Suspends Football Leagues Amid Betting Scandal
Turkish football is in turmoil following a major betting scandal, prompting the Football Federation to suspend third and fourth division leagues for two weeks. This decision comes after a widespread betting controversy emerged last month.
In a surprising development, an Istanbul court ordered the pre-trial detention of six referees suspected of match-fixing, who officiated as assistants in the lower leagues.
Meanwhile, 11 referees who had been detained since Friday were released on bail as part of the ongoing investigations.
The Turkish federation has expanded its inquiry to include over 1,000 players, among them international Eren Elmaiy, a defender for Galatasaray, one of Turkey's top clubs.
Additionally, the president of Eyüp Spor, a first-division team, has been arrested in connection with the investigation.
As part of the investigative efforts, the federation has summoned 1,024 players to appear before the disciplinary committee, accused of betting on matches despite a ban on player gambling.
The federation confirmed plans to hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to discuss future measures aimed at preserving the integrity of the sport.
These developments come at a time when Turkish football faces unprecedented challenges, as the betting scandal threatens the sport's reputation and presents significant hurdles for the federation in ensuring transparency and fairness in local competitions.
