TFF statement on money laundering and betting allegations

The TFF has issued a statement regarding the "money laundering and betting allegations" that have recently been raised in Turkish football.

Here is the TFF's statement:

"The authority to determine ticket prices for football matches lies with our clubs. While current TFF regulations stipulate a ratio for guest ticket prices relative to home ticket prices, there is no limitation regarding the lower or upper bounds of ticket prices. Furthermore, when examining the ticket sales figures and total ticket revenue generated through the e-ticket system for matches where the club in question was the host, no anomalies were detected between the number of tickets sold and the total revenue obtained. On the other hand, the TFF referred the file to the Ethics Committee with a Board of Directors decision taken on 06.11.2023 to conduct the necessary investigations regarding the illegal betting allegations that appeared in the media concerning a match of the club in question. Additionally, with its uncompromising stance on money laundering and betting issues, the TFF has planned a detailed process to examine all allegations in the finest detail and is in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and other relevant units. One of the TFF's duties is to increase spectator numbers in football. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, we inform the public that we will introduce a regulation regarding ticket sales prices starting from the second half of the season to establish standardization."

"THERE ARE 3 PEOPLE IN THE STADIUM"

Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç had made a statement on this subject at the council meeting.

Here is Ali Koç's statement:

"A team is being mentioned; it has 536 Passolig cards and sells tickets for 4-5 thousand TL. It is said that 10 thousand tickets were sold, but there are 3 people in the stadium. It is also said that 50 thousand TL worth of tickets were sold for another match. In other words, there is an implication of money laundering. I think this is a very serious allegation."

THE FIRST ALLEGATION CAME FROM MURAT AĞIREL

Journalist Murat Ağırel put forward the claim that the owners of Tuzlaspor, who set exorbitant ticket prices, were legalizing overseas betting revenue in this way. Ağırel alleged that although the tickets Tuzlaspor put up for sale at exorbitant prices appeared to have been sold through the Passolig system, no one came to the match. The Tuzlaspor side denied these allegations on the same TV program.

News Source: 12punto