Erden Timur among 30 held as Türkiye betting probe widens | OneFootball

Istanbul prosecutors announced on Friday that 30 figures in Turkish football, including 14 players and former Galatasaray vice-president Erden Timur, have been detained on suspicion of betting on matches in Türkiye.

The wide-ranging probe has rattled the game for months and in early November led to the jailing of six referees and the president of Eyüpspor.

Arrest warrants were issued for 29 people, including 14 footballers, and 24 have been taken into custody. Those detained include Timur (2022-2024), Eyüpspor vice-president Fatih Kulaksiz, and an official from the Turkish Football Federation.

Six suspects are accused of influencing the result of Kasimpasa v Samsunspor on 26 October 2024. Fourteen players are alleged to have placed bets in a way that could affect outcomes, by backing the opposing team in their own match.

Operations were carried out simultaneously across 11 provinces and are now focused on Istanbul. The suspect list spans players, club and federation officials, businessmen and a former police officer.

Bank accounts examined showed inflows and outflows considered linked to betting, suspected concealment of the origin of funds, and other unusual transactions. This is the third wave of operations in the investigation.

Last month nearly 150 referees were suspended for betting and have since been dismissed. A further 25 top-flight players and nearly 1,000 from the second, third and fourth tiers were suspended for the same reason.

Source: L'Équipe