A massive gambling scandal has shaken Turkish football. Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu announces that the investigation—initially targeting referees—will now expand to include clubs, executives, and players.
In a dramatic press conference in Istanbul, Hacıosmanoğlu described the moment as an “earthquake in Turkish football”, following the suspension of 149 referees and assistants, 1,024 players across all leagues, and arrests of 8 individuals, including a top-tier club chairman.
He urged club presidents to conduct their own internal investigations, warning that both TFF and the chief prosecutor’s office will uncover the truth.
Authorities are cooperating with UEFA and Interpol, and monitoring illegal betting activity linked to Montenegro, Cyprus, and Georgia.
00:08Well, I think the problems are especially more prevalent in the lower leagues.
00:13There's an earthquake in football today.
00:16Well, let everyone allow that just as the number of teams increased, now it should decrease.
00:22You said the number of teams might decrease.
00:25How will you compensate the clubs?
00:27Maybe we'll suffer the consequences for a year, maybe two, but the
00:33future will be much better for all clubs, for the Turkish football family,
00:41if we can all experience this clean environment with determination.
00:53I made a call. I said we are cleaning.
00:57Up our own act, and I called on our esteemed club presidents to do their own cleaning with their own will, to
01:07Unite all individuals of football under one roof.
01:15Of course, it would be good if the club presidents take my call into consideration and do it themselves, but
01:24They shouldn't be upset when they encounter negative situations as a result of the investigations by both us and the chief public prosecutor's office.
01:37That's why my call is for them, that's why my call is for them to do their own cleaning.
01:44Dot.
01:45Did they give support?
01:48And, of course, we
01:50Started with the referees and the players.
01:53Everyone was happy when the referees were dealt with.
02:01When it came to the players, people started to dilute the issue, to pull it in different directions because it started to affect them.
02:11Cleaning up shouldn't only be about the referees.
02:13Yeah, dear friends, if it's going to be done, all elements of football need to be cleaned up.
02:34He made the first set ‑‑
02:36Are we ready, friends?
02:58Let me congratulate you for what we've done.
03:01Well, I think the problems are especially more prevalent in the lower leagues.
03:06Are we ready to show up here?
03:09I know we've done an amazing job.
03:14I'm ready to read this webinar, but I'll be ready to show up here.
03:20Well, let's all go back to the beginning.
03:22Let me pick up the right track, Stephen Graham,
03:27and I will see you right here with another.
03:31In this presentation, I'm going to look back at the right track.
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