Turkish football federation suspends 147 officials over sports betting

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 147 club officials for 45 days over sports-betting violations, it announced on 20 October. The officials worked at first- or second-division clubs in the past five years, and the suspension bars them from any football activity during the period.

In September, 448 people were accused of placing sports bets while holding posts at clubs in the country. All were provisionally suspended and referred to the federation's disciplinary board, and 147 were found guilty at the end of the disciplinary process.

The punishments form part of a wider investigation into match-fixing in Turkish football. The inquiry has already led to the suspension of almost 150 referees and assistant referees, as well as more than 1,200 athletes accused of actively betting and of contributing to fraud in matches. Several professionals have been detained in recent months, including former Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe players.

The TFF decision was taken by its president, İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu. The case coincides with a period of transition for the national team, which was eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup; the federation chose Sergen Yalçin, then at Besiktas, as national coach for the new cycle.