Referee betting scandal exposed! Clubs issue back-to-back statements: Abolish relegation

Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu has announced that it has been determined that 371 referees have betting accounts and 152 of them have been actively placing bets.

TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu stated that the necessary sanctions will be imposed on these referees.

Following Hacıosmanoğlu's remarks, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation is ongoing, while statements from clubs have come one after another.

"A HEAVY BLOW TO THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF TURKISH FOOTBALL"

Galatasaray Sports Club President Dursun Özbek stated that the announcement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu regarding some referees officiating in professional leagues placing bets has laid bare the crisis of trust and justice in Turkish football.

In a statement on the yellow-red club's website, Özbek said, "The information shared with the public by Turkish Football Federation President Mr. İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu at today's press conference has clearly revealed the dimensions of the crisis of trust and justice that Turkish football has been in for a long time. The determination that referees, who are tasked with ensuring justice on the pitch, have betting accounts and are actively placing bets is a heavy blow not only to sports ethics but also to the fundamental values of Turkish football."

Stating that Galatasaray Sports Club will provide all kinds of support to the process for the sake of clean football, Özbek noted the following:

"As Galatasaray Sports Club, we have expressed our demand for a clean, fair football environment where competition takes place only on the pitch many times before; we have always maintained a determined stance on this issue. Today, it has been revealed once again how right we were in this demand. Today, I called Mr. İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and conveyed to him that Galatasaray Sports Club is ready to provide all kinds of support to this process and beyond. Our club will support every step taken to establish clean football to the end. We consider this work, led by Mr. Hacıosmanoğlu, an important turning point for Turkish football. The reputation, justice, and trust of Turkish football are above everything else. We believe it is of great importance that the Federation transparently shares with the public the names of the referees whose betting accounts have been identified, the matches these individuals officiated, and the scope of the bets they placed. As Galatasaray Sports Club, we will follow this process to the end. We are ready to take on every responsibility that falls to us for the construction of an order where the dark points of Turkish football are illuminated one by one and justice is reflected on the pitch."

"GRAVE STATEMENTS"

Fenerbahçe Sports Club President Sadettin Saran, regarding the announcement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that 371 out of 571 referees have betting accounts and 152 are actively placing bets, said, "Today's statements made me happy both as a sports person and as the president of Fenerbahçe."

Saran, who came to the city for the match to be played between Gaziantep FK and Fenerbahçe in the 10th week of the Trendyol Super League, visited the Mehmet Erdemoğlu Primary School and met with the children.

Making a statement to the press after the visit, Saran noted the following regarding TFF President Hacıosmanoğlu's betting statement about the referees:

"Today's statements made me happy both as a sports person and as the president of Fenerbahçe. That it has been pursued, that it has come to light... Because we, as Fenerbahçe, are among the clubs that have voiced this the most. Our justification is emerging. These are extremely important, grave statements... It is sad and shocking for Turkish football, but at least it is promising that it has come to light. I congratulate Mr. Hacıosmanoğlu and the federation, and I believe they will go all the way. We will, of course, be following it. Close information is coming, we will be personally involved. We will deal with it when we return to Istanbul. I hope it becomes a milestone and such things never happen again. It has been a long time, we have always voiced it, but at least it has come to light. I congratulate them again, those who brought it out and those who will pursue it. We will also do more than our part. We have always voiced it until today, and from now on, we will be the closest followers of it."

"SHOULD BE SHARED TRANSPARENTLY"

Beşiktaş Sports Club announced that the statement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that some referees officiating in professional leagues are placing bets is a milestone for clean football.

In the statement made by the black-and-white club, it was emphasized that the referees who place bets and the matches on which bets were placed should be shared with the public, and the following was noted:

"We have followed with great attention the statement made by Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu at the press conference he held today, stating that referees tasked with ensuring justice on the pitch have betting accounts and are actively using their betting accounts. We believe that the work carried out by the Turkish Football Federation under the presidency of İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu is very valuable and a milestone for clean football. We demand that the Federation transparently share with the public the referees who have betting accounts and actively use their accounts, the matches these referees bet on, and what kind of bets were placed. As Beşiktaş JK, we would like to inform the public that we will follow the matter to the end and will seek all our rights retrospectively."

"RELEGATION SHOULD BE ABOLISHED"

Ümraniyespor Club, competing in the Trendyol 1st League, issued a statement regarding the announcement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that 371 out of 571 referees have betting accounts and 152 are actively placing bets.

In the statement made by the club on the X platform, it was stated, "Turkish football is experiencing one of the darkest, most shameful days in its history today. The statement made by the president of the Turkish Football Federation has clearly revealed how much our football has rotted and that a swamp that has been covered up for years can no longer be hidden."

In the statement, it was conveyed that the decisions and results taken due to 152 referees placing bets are not clean, and it was said, "This confession has gone down as a black mark on Turkish football and has disregarded the efforts of clubs, players, and technical teams fighting with sweat. This scandal is the responsibility not only of the referees but also of those who have protected this system for years, turned a blind eye, and said, 'I didn't see, I didn't hear.' From this point on, no one can say, 'Our football is clean.' From this point on, no one can say, 'There is justice.'"

Emphasizing that this order should not be accepted, the club's statement noted the following:

"If this filth is covered up once again, the future of football will be completely destroyed. Therefore, we say it clearly and net. All referees involved in the betting scandal must be immediately expelled from football. The sporting integrity of this season has been effectively destroyed. Therefore, relegation should be abolished. Until justice is re-established in Turkish football, no team, no community can feel safe. The structure of the Federation, its decision-making mechanisms, and its appointment system must be completely renewed, and an independent and impartial audit process must be initiated. This call of ours is a call made not only for Ümraniyespor but for Turkish football. Those who remain silent today will be the victims of the same injustice tomorrow."

In the statement, it was stated that Ümraniyespor is fighting for Turkish football, and the following expressions were included: "There is sweat, struggle, and pride in the history of this club. We are waging this struggle not only on our own behalf but on behalf of the honor of Turkish football. Nothing will normalize until justice is provided. Football will not even be mentioned until this stain is cleaned. We will not be silent until the voices of honest people and those who want clean football are heard in this country. As Ümraniyespor, we will defend our rights, our labor, and our justice to the end. We are right, we are strong, we want justice. We are behind our Turkish Football Federation, which has taken this determined and courageous step, to the end."

"A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY"

Trabzonspor Club stated that the process regarding the announcement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that some referees officiating in professional leagues are placing bets is a historic opportunity for the re-establishment of justice in Turkish football.

In the statement made by the burgundy-blue club, it was stated that the most fundamental need of Turkish football is the re-establishment of justice and trust.

Expressing that with the statement made by Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, the dimension of the structural decay they have been voicing in the referee community for a long time has been clearly revealed, it continued as follows:

"It has been determined that 571 referees have placed bets in the last five years, 371 of them have active accounts, and 152 referees are still actively placing bets. The fact that there are 7 top-class referees and 15 top-class assistant referees among these names has made the scale of the scandal even more striking. The fact that some referees have placed bets on football matches tens of thousands of times reveals one of the darkest tables in the history of Turkish football. This table has fundamentally shaken not only the refereeing institution but also the justice system of Turkish football."

Noting that it has been revealed once again how right their calls have been for years that the effort on the pitch is not being rewarded and that justice must be established as Trabzonspor Club, it was stated, "We support the action taken by the Turkish Football Federation on this issue. This process is a historic opportunity for the re-establishment of justice in Turkish football. The reputation of football can only be saved by re-establishing justice."

"THEY MUST BE CLEANSED FROM THE FOOTBALL COMMUNITY"

Fatih Karagümrük Club stated that the process regarding the announcement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that some referees officiating in professional leagues are placing bets should be deepened.

In the statement made by the red-black club, the following expressions were included:

"Turkish Football Federation President Mr. İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu stated at the press conference he held that 371 of the 571 active referees officiating in professional leagues have betting accounts and 152 of these referees are actively placing bets. We have followed these statements with great attention and sadness. It is absolutely unacceptable for referees, who should ensure justice on the pitch, to place bets and manipulate matches for their personal interests. We demand that the TFF, under the presidency of İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, deepen this work and transparently share with the public who these referees who place bets are, in which matches, and in what way they placed bets.

Seeing today as a milestone, our call to all sports clubs is this: All our clubs competing in professional leagues should conduct their own internal audits, and those who cast a shadow on the labor given on the pitch must be cleansed from the football community."

SARIYER: "WE WILL WATCH CAREFULLY"

Sarıyer Club emphasized that they will support the process regarding the announcement by Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu that some referees officiating in professional leagues are placing bets.

In the statement made by the blue-white club on its Instagram account, the US-based social media platform, the following expressions were used:

"In this season when we were promoted to the 1st League, we have been one of the clubs that suffered the most from points lost due to wrong referee decisions from the very first day. The statements made today have once again revealed how right and appropriate the struggle we have shown and the concerns we have voiced in this process were. As Sarıyer Sports Club, we will be the closest followers of this issue and will carefully watch the steps to be taken by the relevant institutions and the sanctions to be applied. In addition, we invite all clubs to make a joint press statement for a fair management and equal competition environment. We believe that by acting together, we will contribute to the strengthening of transparency, justice, and accountability in Turkish football."

Underlining that they, as a club, stand by the TFF's efforts to protect the order, disciplinary mechanisms, and fair-play principles in football, the views, "We respectfully inform the public that we will provide support for the process to be operated correctly and for effective sanctions to be applied when necessary in cooperation with the TFF. We believe in the importance of this unity and common stance for the realization of the principle of justice for everyone in Turkish football," were included.