Turkish football hit by betting scandal: 100+ representatives
Professional football in Turkey is going through one of the most extensive disciplinary episodes in recent years. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed the opening of a formal process against 104 football agents, accused of having participated in betting activities, a practice expressly prohibited by current regulations.
According to the governing body, the agents under investigation were duly registered and active in their roles during the period in which they allegedly placed bets, constituting a direct violation of the Disciplinary Code. In response, the TFF decided to activate Article 57 preventively, which allows for provisional suspension while the cases are analyzed.
Since January 7, 2026, the agents have been suspended from activity and their files were sent to the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee (PFDK), which must now assess the severity of each individual case and determine the corresponding sanctions. Possible penalties range from fines and temporary suspensions to more severe sanctions.
A structural problem beyond the agents
The investigation into illegal betting was not limited to agents. In recent months, the disciplinary process expanded and involved players, referees, and other actors in the football ecosystem, revealing a broader issue within Turkish sport.
According to authorities, betting-related conduct was detected even in professional categories, leading to a two-pronged approach. While the TFF proceeded with sporting sanctions, the ordinary judiciary also intervened with arrests and precautionary measures in some cases.
Sanctioned players and recent precedents
Among the most notable cases are those of Eren Elmali and Metehan Baltaci, players of Galatasaray, who admitted to having placed bets in the past. Both clarified that they did not bet on matches involving their own club or games in which they participated directly, a factor considered when defining the sanctions.
Elmali received a 45-day suspension and was temporarily excluded from the national team, while Baltaci was punished with a nine-month disqualification. The harshest sanction fell on Alassane Ndao, forward for Konyaspor, who was suspended for a full year.
In total, the disciplinary process has already resulted in sanctions for 25 First Division players and 77 Second Division footballers, reflecting the scale of the problem and the federation’s decision to apply zero tolerance regarding any links between professional football and betting.
Signal of institutional toughening
With these measures, the TFF aims to send a clear message to the market and the sporting environment. Any type of participation in betting or gambling by actors directly linked to professional activity constitutes a serious breach of integrity rules.
The simultaneous advancement of disciplinary and judicial processes marks a turning point in Turkish football’s control policy, in an international context where the relationship between sport and betting continues under increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Tags: Turkey, online betting Turkey, illegal betting Turkey