Identities of referees detained in dawn operation clarified

The betting investigation, which has led to a major scandal in Turkish football, was launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Following the statement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that "371 referees have betting accounts, and 152 of them are actively betting," an investigation into betting activities was initiated. In the first operation carried out this morning, 19 people were detained.

EYÜPSPOR AND KASIMPAŞA PRESIDENTS DETAINED

As part of the operation, Eyüpspor Club President Murat Özkaya and former Kasımpaşa Club President Fatih Saraç were among those detained. A detention order was issued for both individuals on charges of "Influencing the Outcome of a Match." Additionally, detention proceedings are ongoing for Kasımpaşa Club owner Turgay Ciner.

The identities of the 16 detained referees have also been confirmed. According to the report by Sabah newspaper, the detained referees are as follows:

Ahmet Kıvanç Kader (Classified Assistant Referee / İzmir)

Arif Taşkın (Classified Assistant Referee / Edirne)

Baran Karaman (Classified Assistant Referee / Diyarbakır)

Batuhan Topçu (Classified Assistant Referee / Bolu)

Bedirhan Efeakdoğan (Classified Referee / Ankara)

Cihad Buyurgan (Classified Assistant Referee / Antalya)

Erkan Arslan (Classified Assistant Referee / Diyarbakır)

Miraç Yıldırım (Classified Referee / Trabzon)

Mustafa Özel (Classified Assistant Referee / Malatya)

Nevzat Okat (Classified Referee / Kütahya)

Nurullah Kırbaş (Classified Referee / Batman)

Sabri Emre Tekin (Classified Assistant Referee / Ankara)

Şenol Bektaş (Superior Classified Assistant Referee / İstanbul)

Ufuk Tatlıcan (Classified Assistant Referee / İzmir)

Umut Kaptan (Classified Assistant Referee / Ankara)

Yakup Yapıcı (Classified Assistant Referee / İstanbul)

Yasin Şen (Classified Assistant Referee / İstanbul)

SUSPICIONS REGARDING BETTING ACTIVITIES

The fact that referees hold the status of public officials highlights that betting activities are incompatible with their duties. In addition to the betting activities, which will be compared against obtained income, potential allegations of match-fixing and influencing match outcomes have become one of the focal points of the investigation.

It was reported that these activities are being examined under the Law on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports.

Within the framework of the investigation, search and detention operations were carried out simultaneously in 12 different provinces.

In the statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was expressed that the administrative processes conducted by the TFF are continuing independently in connection with judicial evaluations. The statement indicated that judicial action could also be taken against individuals who have not been processed by the TFF.

In this context, it was emphasized that there are also judicial evaluations conducted ex officio in connection with the disciplinary process.

As part of the operation, it was announced that two suspects are abroad and that arrest warrants will be issued for them. The detained individuals were transferred to the Istanbul Police Department for their statements to be taken.