Sport24.az
Turkey's Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an extensive investigation into illegal football betting games. The Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek, stated that 19 club officials within the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) have been suspected of betting on matches involving their own teams.
Investigators analyzed data from the state-owned betting company IDDAA's online platforms from 2020 to 2026 and compared it to the officials' work schedules at the clubs. According to the prosecutor's office, the suspects have bet not only on their own teams' wins but also on the outcomes of their opponents' games, various finals, and individual player statistics.
According to the investigators, Beşiktaş player Tolga Kırgız stands out the most in this regard, with 1488 bets on his account. The next places in the list are taken by Kerem Gürél (Beşiktaş, 996 bets), Avni Akdemir (Erzurumspor, 218), Ünsal Yamaner (Bandırmaspor, 144), and Savaş Tatil (Adanaspor, 124).
During the investigation, law enforcement agencies examined data from seven online services that cooperate with IDDAA, including Misli, Nesine, Oley, Tuttur, Bilyoner, and Birebin. Financial information from MASAK was also included in the case materials.
At the same time, searches and arrests were carried out in ten provinces of Turkey. According to the prosecutor's office, two of the suspects are currently abroad, and the investigation is ongoing.
