Turkey’s Skilled Soccer Disciplinary Board has issued months-long bans to greater than 100 referees and assistant referees after an inside investigation into betting by the Turkish Soccer Federation.
The decisions have been made on the board’s assembly on Friday (October 31) underneath Article 57 of the nation’s disciplinary guidelines, which cope with playing offenses.
149 referees suspended in Turkish league soccer referee scandal
In complete, 149 officers out of 152 from totally different ranges of the sport have been suspended for durations starting from eight to 12 months. The board stated it checked out how critical every case was when deciding the size of every ban.
Which referees have been named within the Turkish soccer referee probe?
Within the prime tier, Egemen Artun and Yunus Dursun obtained ten month bans, whereas Mehmet Ali Ozer, Muhammed Selim Ozbek and Seyfettin Alper Yilmaz have been every suspended for eight months.
2025-2026 SEZONUNDA OYNADIĞIMIZ
• Manisa FK 1–1 Alagöz Holding Iğdır FK
Orta Hakem: Egemen Artun (2 Golümüz İptal)• Alagöz Holding Iğdır FK 0–0 Vanspor
Orta Hakem: Seyfettin Alper Yılmaz (1 Penaltımız İptal)• Alagöz Holding Iğdır FK 1–1 Boluspor
Yardımcı Hakem: Faruk… pic.twitter.com/o4TDKf3Hw6— Alagöz Holding Iğdır Futbol Kulübü (@igdirFK) October 28, 2025
The investigation continues to be ongoing for Zorbay Kucuk and Melih Kurt, in addition to decrease tier referee Mertcan Tubay. The board additionally identified that the sanctions issued to Melih Eser and Osman Can Aciklar have been authorised by a majority vote. The choice consists of a couple of hundred decrease division referees and assistants who obtained bans of eight, ten or twelve months. Underneath the disciplinary guidelines, suspensions longer than 45 days can result in licence revocation, which implies lots of the officers may lose their locations on the lively referees record.
TFF President says punished referees will face additional sanctions
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Yönetim Kurulu olarak göreve başladığımız günden bu yana, Türk futbolunun her alanında adil, şeffaf ve kararlı bir tutum sergilediğimizi birçok kez ifade ettik. Bu anlayıştan asla taviz vermedik, vermeyeceğiz.
Türk futbolunun itibarı, sahadaki emeğin…
— TFF (@TFF_Org) October 30, 2025
In a translated statement, TFF President Ibrahim Ethem Haciosmanoglu stated the transfer is a part of a wider effort to guard the integrity of the game. He stated the federation has acted “pretty, transparently and decisively” and that it’s going to not compromise on these ideas. He known as refereeing “an honorable career” and warned that anybody who damages that honor “could have no place in Turkish soccer,” regardless of who helps them.
“The popularity of Turkish soccer is constructed on the sanctity of labor on the pitch and the unwavering integrity of justice. Any act that betrays these values will not be merely a violation of the principles, however a breach of belief.” – Ibrahim Ethem Haciosmanoglu, TFF President
He stated the Ethics and Disciplinary Boards are trying into the difficulty intimately and that anybody whose penalties turn into ultimate will face no matter sanctions the principles require. He added that the TFF’s battle towards each authorized and unlawful betting will proceed with out hesitation and that the federation will absolutely cooperate with investigations by Public Prosecutor’s Workplaces.
Whereas asking individuals to not politicize the method, he additionally known as for help for the referees who’re following the principles and nonetheless operating matches, saying, “We stand firmly behind those that do their responsibility correctly.”
Widespread betting exercise
The disciplinary strikes come after an inside audit the federation introduced on October 27. That evaluation discovered widespread betting exercise amongst licensed referees, even in circumstances the place they solely had betting accounts, which isn’t allowed underneath FIFA and UEFA integrity guidelines. In accordance with what was shared on the time, 152 referees have been despatched to the Skilled Soccer Disciplinary Board for putting bets, together with seven from the highest tier.
Separate from the sports activities sanctions, Turkey’s Legislation No. 6222 units out felony penalties for actions that manipulate or intrude with sporting integrity. Prosecutors in Istanbul are additionally trying into the latest allegations as a part of their very own inquiries.
The PFDK bans take impact immediately underneath the choice. The inquiries involving Kucuk, Kurt and Tubay are nonetheless ongoing. The TFF says league play will proceed with officers who weren’t concerned within the case, and it’ll help prosecutors as they give the impression of being into whether or not any felony points are current.
Responding to the allegations, Fenerbahçe membership president Sadettin Saran stated he was happy with the choice to take motion towards senior officers. He added: “At Fenerbahçe, we’ve got all the time spoken about these items. Our place is being confirmed proper. These are grave and surprising issues for Turkish soccer. It’s encouraging that they’re coming to gentle.”
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