Statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on the betting scandal: 5 years of records must be analyzed

Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu announced that 371 out of 571 referees officiating in professional leagues have betting accounts, and 152 of them are actively placing bets.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, having previously announced that it accepted Hacıosmanoğlu's statements as a formal notification and that the investigation into the matter is ongoing and will deepen, has now issued a further statement.

The statement issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is as follows:

Following the statement made on 27/10/2025 by TFF (Turkish Football Federation) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu

"that it has been determined that 371 referees have betting accounts and 152 are actively placing bets"

a press release was issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and due to the necessity that has arisen,

it has become necessary to provide further information to the public regarding certain matters

through this additional statement.

The investigation into the identification of the referees in question and the allegations against them regarding violations of Law No. 6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports,

violations of the Sports Clubs and Sports Federations Law No. 7405,

violations of Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions,

as well as other criminal allegations to be determined,

includes matters that must be investigated with meticulousness and sensitivity for the sake of the more successful and healthier progress of Turkish football both domestically and internationally.

All teams, football players, referees, and governing bodies competing in every category of our country's football leagues, from amateur to professional, are parts of a whole,

and this investigation

is being conducted with the aim of ensuring integrity.

In accordance with the nature of the investigation and the potential for involvement, particularly in line with the right to be presumed innocent,

a comprehensive investigation is being conducted regarding all elements involved.

Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, MASAK

reports, HTS records, accessible domestic and international betting site subscription records, and records

regarding the status of betting on these sites, as well as witness statements, have been or are being obtained. It must be appreciated

that analyzing these records, which pertain to thousands of individuals and dozens of institutions over a retrospective period of at least 5 years,

takes a certain amount of time and requires intensive effort, and only after these

analyses can the actual suspects be identified and the necessary judicial actions be taken against them.

will be carried out.

Considering the scale and scope of the human factors such as players and referees, as well as institutional factors like football clubs and governing bodies that make up our football leagues subject to the investigation,

it is essential that all evidence, both for and against, be collected completely and meticulously within the scope of this ongoing judicial investigation.

During this process, it is requested that no credence be given to statements that may mislead the public or create false perceptions.

It is announced that all the aforementioned information and documents to be analyzed in the investigation are being obtained from the relevant authorities and that the proceedings are ongoing.

Furthermore, any up-to-date information that may emerge will also be obtained.

This information is hereby brought to the attention of the public.

We inform the public accordingly.

News Source: 12punto