Critical warning from Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to TFF regarding betting investigation

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has sent a letter to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) regarding the process publicly known as the "football betting investigations," which also encompasses allegations of match-fixing. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the TFF must observe the integrity and confidentiality principle of the judicial investigation in its statements.

The letter stated that the judicial investigations conducted under the crimes of "Opposition to the Law on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports" and "Abuse of Office" must be evaluated in conjunction with the disciplinary investigations carried out by the TFF regarding individuals subject to its football disciplinary instructions who are accused of betting.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office pointed out that press statements made by the TFF could create a judicial investigation dimension. It was emphasized that evidence regarding the acts subject to the investigation is being collected by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the institution was requested not to act independently.

REQUEST TO NOT DISCLOSE NAMES OF SUSPECTS

The letter stated that actions that could lead to the alteration, concealment, or destruction of criminal evidence, or the escape of suspects who have not yet been apprehended, must be avoided. Furthermore, it was reminded that the investigation phase is confidential and that the presumption of innocence must be upheld until guilt is proven by a court decision.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that disclosing the names of individuals likely to be suspects within the scope of the investigation before judicial proceedings are completed could create risks for the apprehension of suspects, the preservation of evidence integrity, and the proper conduct of the investigation. Therefore, the TFF was requested to refrain from making statements containing names as a result of administrative investigations. It was noted that if such a statement becomes necessary, coordination must be established with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The framework regarding criminal complaints was also detailed in the letter. Accordingly, if the TFF makes a notification to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office as a result of a disciplinary investigation, it was requested that not everyone subject to disciplinary action be sent; for football players, it was requested that work be conducted only regarding those who were in the extended match squad and are assessed to have bet on their own match.

It was requested that information regarding which club the person is actively playing for, which club they were in during the period they placed bets, and whether they were in the squad for the match on which the bet was placed be included in the notifications. It was stated that if the person played in the match, the match list and statistical data should also be sent.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also requested that specific data regarding the nature of the betting market, such as "first corner" and "first throw-in," be included in the annex of the criminal complaint.