Eighteen people have been detained in Turkey as part of an investigation into referees suspected of betting on football matches, the Istanbul prosecutor’s office announced on Friday.
Arrest warrants have been issued for 21 individuals, including 17 referees and the president of a first-division club, according to the statement. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many referees are among those currently being questioned.
The investigation centres on allegations of match fixing and abuse of power, raising fresh concerns about integrity in Turkish football.
The probe follows disciplinary action taken by the Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) Disciplinary Council last week, which suspended 149 referees for betting on matches in breach of federation rules. The suspensions range from eight to twelve months, although the TFF did not specify whether any of those officials were accused of wagering on games they had officiated.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors examine the extent of the alleged betting network and its potential impact on domestic football competitions.
