29 Detained in Turkey’s Soccer Betting Probe, Former Galatasaray Executive Among Suspects

Prosecutors in Turkey have ordered the detention of 29 more individuals in an ongoing investigation into betting in professional Turkish soccer, with a former Galatasaray executive among those detained, according to broadcaster NTV and other media reports on Friday.

NTV reported that 24 of the 29 suspects have been taken into custody, including former Galatasaray executive Erden Timur, while four others remain at large and one suspect is already in jail. The identities of Galatasaray and Timur were not immediately available for comment.

Among those detained, 14 are players from Turkish leagues, though their names were not disclosed. Six suspects are reportedly linked to betting on a Super Lig match between Kasimpasa and Samsunspor in October 2024.

The investigation comes amid wider disciplinary action by Turkey’s football federation, which last month suspended 149 referees and assistants over involvement in match betting. The crackdown expanded with the arrest of eight more individuals, including the chairman of a top-tier club, alongside the suspension of 1,024 players across all leagues, with additional bans imposed.

Earlier this month, prosecutors had detained 46 people, including players, club presidents, commentators, and a referee, over allegations of insider betting. A Turkish court subsequently jailed 20 suspects, including Super Lig players, pending trial, highlighting the scale and severity of the ongoing crackdown on illegal betting in Turkish football.