Daijiworld Media Network - Ankara

Ankara, Nov 14: Turkiye’s football authorities have temporarily banned 102 professional players as part of an expanding investigation into illegal betting activities across the country. The Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) Professional Football Disciplinary Board on Thursday imposed suspensions ranging from 45 days to 12 months, affecting 25 Super Lig players and 77 from the second-tier First League. The probe initially reviewed allegations against 1,024 footballers, resulting in disciplinary action for the 102 sanctioned players.

Among the high-profile cases, Galatasaray and Turkish national team defender Eren Elmali received a 45-day ban and was removed from the national squad. Elmali recently admitted on Instagram to betting on a football match five years ago, clarifying it did not involve his own team. His Galatasaray teammate Metehan Baltaci, a member of Türkiye’s Under-21 team, received a nine-month suspension, while Konyaspor’s Alassane Ndao faced the longest ban of 12 months.

The TFF emphasized that players referred to the disciplinary board are barred from participating in matches during the ongoing investigation. To manage the fallout, matches in the Second and Third Leagues have been postponed for two weeks, while Super Lig and First League games will continue as scheduled. The federation has also initiated urgent talks with FIFA to allow affected teams a 15-day transfer window to reinforce their squads.

Earlier this week, Turkish authorities arrested Eyupspor chairman Murat Ozkaya and seven others as part of a broader crackdown on illegal football betting. The scandal has sent shockwaves through the Turkish football community, highlighting systemic issues within the federation.

The investigation underscores Turkiye’s commitment to preserving integrity in professional football while managing the operational challenges posed by such large-scale disciplinary measures.