Six referees are in custody in Türkiye as authorities investigate widespread allegations of match-fixing, perhaps implicating over 1,000 footballers. The probe, revealed this week, centers on suspicions of manipulated matches across multiple leagues, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of Turkish football.
The inquiry follows accusations leveled against Besiktas captain Necip Uysal,who claims his identity was used to open a betting account without his knowledge.”They opened an account with my ID number on a site where I neither played nor opened an account,and they placed bets,” Uysal declared. This incident occurs more then a decade after a major 2011 scandal rocked Turkish football, resulting in convictions and impacting clubs like Fenerbahçe.
Turkish prosecutors initiated the operation across multiple cities, detaining the referees on suspicion of “forming a criminal organization” and manipulating football games. The scope of the investigation extends to matches from the 2022-2023 season and potentially earlier, with authorities examining a substantial number of games for irregularities. The alleged scheme reportedly involved influencing referees to make decisions favorable to pre-persistent betting outcomes.
The 2011 match-fixing scandal led to life bans for several prominent figures and Fenerbahçe being excluded from the Champions League. This latest advancement casts a shadow over Turkish football once again, prompting calls for stringent reforms to safeguard the sport’s credibility and ensure fair play. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities continue their inquiries.
