Türkiye issues arrest warrants in football betting scandal

Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 21 people, including 17 referees and the president of a top-flight football club, as part of an investigation into betting-related cases.

At least 18 suspects were detained for questioning during coordinated morning raids on Friday in Istanbul and 11 other provinces, according to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, CE Report quotes BTA.

The 17 referees, identified only by their initials, are being investigated for possible charges of “abuse of power” and “influencing the outcome of matches.”

Murat Özkaya, president of Turkish Super Lig club Eyüpspor, and Fatih Saraç, former owner of Kasımpaşa, were also questioned as part of the investigation, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet and other local media reported.

Kasımpaşa was placed under administration in September following a separate corruption investigation into the holding company that previously owned the club.

The scandal erupted after the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistants last week, following revelations by a government agency that 371 of 571 active referees had accounts with betting companies.

Ten of those referees reportedly placed bets on tens of thousands of matches, including some in Türkiye’s top division.