NewKerala.com

Turkish Football Scandal: 102 Players Banned Amid Betting Investigation

Turkish football is facing a major crisis with 102 players receiving temporary bans. The investigation spans both top-tier Super Lig and second division players. National team defender Eren Elmali admitted to placing a bet five years ago but claims it didn't involve his team. The federation has postponed lower league matches and is seeking emergency transfer options from FIFA.

Key Points: Turkiye Bans 102 Footballers in Widening Betting Scandal

  • Galatasaray defender Eren Elmali banned 45 days and removed from national team
  • Investigation reviewed allegations against 1,024 footballers across all leagues
  • Second and Third League matches postponed for two weeks duration
  • TFF seeks FIFA approval for emergency transfer window for affected clubs
2 min read

Turkiye bans 102 footballers over widening betting scandal

Turkish football authorities suspend 102 players including national team stars in major betting investigation, with bans up to 12 months and matches postponed.

"Players who have been provisionally referred to the disciplinary board are not permitted to play - Turkish Football Federation"

Ankara

, Nov 14 (IANS) Turkiye's football authorities have handed temporary bans to 102 professional players as part of a widening investigation into illegal betting activities in the country.

The Professional Football Disciplinary Board of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) on Thursday suspended 25 players from the Super Lig and 77 from the second-tier First League, with punishments ranging from 45 days to 12 months. The investigation reviewed allegations against 1,024 footballers, of whom 102 were sanctioned.

Among the most notable cases is Galatasaray and Turkish national team defender Eren Elmali, who was banned for 45 days and removed from the national team squad, reports Xinhua.

Earlier this week, Elmali admitted on Instagram to placing a bet on a football match approximately five years ago, but said it did not involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray earlier this year.

His teammate Metehan Baltaci, who plays for Türkiye's Under-21 team, received a nine-month suspension. Konyaspor's Alassane Ndao was handed the longest ban of 12 months.

The TFF stressed that players who have been provisionally referred to the disciplinary board are not permitted to play in matches during the ongoing investigation.

Due to the scale of the investigation, the TFF announced that matches in the Second and Third Leagues have been postponed for two weeks, but Super Lig and First League matches will continue as scheduled. The federation also revealed that it has initiated urgent talks with FIFA to allow teams affected by the bans a 15-day transfer window to strengthen their squads.

Earlier, eight people were arrested in Turkiye, and more than 1,000 players were suspended as a wide-ranging investigation into alleged betting on football matches rocked the country’s football federation.

Turkish authorities formally arrested Eyupspor Chairman Murat Ozkaya, a top-tier club chairman, and seven others on Monday, while the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 1,024 players pending disciplinary investigations. Of the suspended players, 27 compete in the country’s top-tier Super Lig, notably Galatasaray defender Eren Elmali, who also represents the Turkish national team.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Wow, 102 players banned! Shows how widespread this problem is. In India, we've seen similar issues in cricket. Sports authorities everywhere need to be more vigilant.
A
Arjun K
Respect to Turkish authorities for taking strong action. In India, we often see such issues being swept under the carpet. Clean sports is what fans deserve! 🙌
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the crackdown, I hope the investigation is fair and transparent. Sometimes innocent players get caught in such wide nets. Due process is important.
K
Karthik V
Elmali admitting he bet 5 years ago shows how deep this goes. Young players need better education about ethics in sports. This should be part of training programs worldwide.
M
Michael C
The 15-day transfer window for affected teams is a practical solution. Shows the federation is thinking about the clubs' challenges too. Good crisis management!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50