Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Türkiye’s football federation has announced it will launch disciplinary proceedings after hundreds of its referees were found to have betting accounts.
The federation’s investigation revealed that out of a total of 571 active match officials in Turkey’s professional leagues, 371 had accounts, 152 of which were actively gambling.
The findings of the five-year investigation were announced at a press conference istanbul Turkish Football Federation (TFF) president Ibrahim Athem Hasiosmanoglu said seven referees were qualified to officiate in Türkiye’s top two divisions.
“As a federation, we started by cleaning up our own backyard,” Hashiosmanoglu said. “If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever mess is there.
“Among those found to have betting accounts were seven top-level referees, 15 top-level assistants, 36 classified referees and 94 classified assistants.”
He said that 42 officials had placed bets on more than a thousand football matches, with one individual placing 18,227 bets. Some others had placed the bet only once. No officer was named.
Those found involved in betting will be “referred to the disciplinary board and face the necessary penalties according to our regulations,” Hasiosmanoglu added.
Match officials, players and coaches are banned from betting under both TTF rules. uefa‘Sand fifa‘S.
Under TFF’s disciplinary code, the penalty for those found guilty of betting on football matches is a ban ranging from three months to one year. FIFA rules state that referees found betting can be fined 100,000 Swiss francs (£94,246) and banned from all activity in football for up to three years.
Sadetin Saran, President of Super League Club fenerbahceSaid: “This is both shocking and deeply sad for Turkish football. But the fact that is emerging is a promising development.”