Will the leagues be suspended after the betting scandal? Murat Ağırel explains

Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu announced in a press conference that referees in the professional leagues have been placing bets. This announcement caused a major shock in Turkish football. Following the betting scandal, there has been much speculation regarding what path the TFF will take.

The fact that matches in the leagues remain under suspicion has led to increasing demands among football stakeholders for the leagues to be halted and for the referees to be suspended. However, journalist Murat Ağırel stated that the TFF will not be suspending the leagues.

In his column for the Cumhuriyet newspaper, Ağırel shared information he obtained from his discussions with TFF officials. He stated that the federation will part ways with the 152 referees who placed bets and that these referees will not be assigned to matches. Furthermore, it was stated in meetings held with the head of the Central Referee Board (MHK) that the process will continue with the current pool of referees. It was also reported that the names of the referees identified during the disciplinary board process will be disclosed.

According to information Murat Ağırel received from his sources within the MHK, referees assigned to cup matches have begun to be changed, and he noted that the findings contained in the file are not limited only to illegal betting. Allegations that some commentators have been involved in referee assignments and that MHK officials have been in contact with club managers have also come to the fore.

For example, Ali Tuna, a Süper Lig referee who is also a member of the General Directorate of Security, resigned from refereeing in August. In his complaint petition, he stated that an MHK member and regional supervisor asked him to determine which hotels his girlfriend was staying at, and that he was not assigned to matches because he refused this request. Such allegations have further expanded the scope of the scandal.

News Source: 12punto