149 Referees Receive Suspensions from the Turkish Football Federation Due to Betting Violations : PMPMedia.io

By Arijit Roul - 4 Nov, 2025 More about the author

Disciplinary measures follow investigation, while integrity standards face renewed examination in Turkish football. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees. Evidence showed these officials bet on football matches. Federation regulations specifically ban this practice. An internal investigation examined referee conduct throughout professional leagues in Turkey. Eight-month to twelve-month sanctions apply to different officials. Betting frequency and scope determined punishment length.

571 match officials underwent review during the inquiry process. Online betting platform accounts belonged to 371 referees. Active status applied to 152 accounts. Top division competitions employed 22 sanctioned referees. Seven main referees and 15 assistants comprised this group. The investigation covered five years of activity. More than 10,000 bets came from ten individuals. 18,000 wagers originated from one referee alone. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office assisted TFF with evidence review. Both organisations determined appropriate disciplinary measures.

TFF President Emphasises Honour in Refereeing Profession

TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu made this statement: “Refereeing is a profession of honour. Anyone who tarnishes that honour will never again participate in Turkish football.” Previous reports indicated betting activity excluded match-fixing involvement. Integrity rules still suffered violations from referee actions. These regulations maintain public confidence while preventing conflicts of interest.

Personal betting accounts contained wagers on unrelated sports by certain referees. Stronger oversight became necessary after this revelation. Turkish football governance requires transparency improvements, according to critics. Large-scale suspensions demonstrate increased cooperation between authorities. Sports organisations and regulatory bodies strengthen integrity frameworks together.