Championships in Turkish football could change: Striking allegations regarding the betting investigation

Following the betting operations that have shaken Turkish football, eyes have turned to the validity of championships. Sports lawyer Anıl Dinçer brought up the possibility that, depending on the results of the betting investigation, the championships of teams that won in past years could change. Dinçer stated that if elements affecting the fairness of championship races and league results are identified, matches could be retroactively canceled.

THE IMPACT ON TURKISH FOOTBALL'S STANDING IN UEFA

Dinçer evaluated whether the betting investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office would affect the standing of Turkish clubs in UEFA. Stating that he does not see such a danger for now, Dinçer said he believes the investigation process is being conducted transparently and that Turkish football will not face any problems in UEFA organizations. However, he warned that if a negative situation arises, UEFA could exclude Turkish clubs from its competitions.

IS THE REVOCATION OF CHAMPIONSHIPS POSSIBLE?

Dinçer stated, "If it is determined as a result of the investigation that the justice mechanism in the leagues was affected and the championship race was manipulated, a situation that could go as far as the retroactive cancellation of matches could occur." Noting that there are provisions in the TFF regulations for the retroactive cancellation of matches, Dinçer emphasized that there is no clear provision for the cancellation of entire leagues.

"RETROACTIVE ACTIONS ARE POSSIBLE, BUT DIFFICULT"

Stating that the practical implementation of revoking championships is not very easy, Dinçer expressed that there would be great uncertainty, especially regarding participation in European cups and the revenues obtained from this participation. He said that numerous questions would arise regarding the revenues clubs obtained from Europe and that confusion could occur regarding how these revenues would be shared. He also noted that league rankings and sponsorship revenues would be part of this process.

Stating that many new people could be included in the investigation with new evidence obtained during the process, Dinçer emphasized the possibility that, in addition to athletes, referees, club presidents, and agents, sporting directors and technical directors could also be involved in this investigation. Furthermore, he stated, "It is not possible for crimes to have been committed only individually in an environment where so many people are involved," suggesting that the investigation could shift toward the dimension of organized crime.

Dinçer stated that at the end of the investigation, the answers to questions such as who organized the illegal betting, who profited, and who manipulated the matches would be important. He warned that the answers to these questions could lead to major changes in Turkish football.