Turkey Suspends Lower Division Football Leagues Amid Major Betting Scandal
The Turkish football scene has been rocked as the Turkish Football Federation announced a two-week suspension of the third and fourth division leagues following a major betting scandal that emerged last month.
In a surprising development, an Istanbul court on Monday ordered the provisional detention of six referees on suspicion of match-fixing, as they had officiated as assistants in the lower divisions.
Meanwhile, 11 other referees who had been detained since Friday were released on bail as part of the same investigation.
The federation has expanded its inquiry to include over 1,000 players, including international defender Eren Elmaï from Galatasaray, one of Turkey's premier clubs.
The president of Ayub Spor, a first division club, has also been arrested in connection with the investigation.
As part of the inquiry, the federation has summoned 1,024 players to appear before the disciplinary committee, accused of betting on matches despite a ban on players engaging in such activities.
The federation confirmed it is considering holding 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 is facing unprecedented tension, as the betting scandal threatens the reputation of the sport and presents a significant challenge for the federation to ensure transparency and fairness in local competitions.
