footballers Implicated in Betting Investigation

The decision letter from the criminal judgeship of peace revealed that several suspects, including football players Metehan Baltacı adn Mert Hakan Yandaş, arrested during the “betting on football” investigation, were found to have engaged in betting activities.

The decision letter concerning the arrested suspects, part of an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, has been released.

The Istanbul 10th Criminal Judgeship of Peace’s decision stated that suspects Mert Hakan Yandaş,Ersen Dikmen,Kerem Yusuf Sirkeci,and Emircan Çiçek were requested for arrest on charges of “match-fixing,” as regulated by Law No.6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports.

Law enforcement reports, MASAK reports, digital material reviews, and the entire case file indicated that suspect Mert Hakan Yandaş transferred a total of 4,453,602 turkish Liras to suspect Ersen Dikmen between December 2021 and October 2025.

The decision letter noted that Dikmen quickly transferred these funds to legal betting sites and subsequently sent 2,600,974 Turkish Liras back to Yandaş.

The decision stated that Dikmen began receiving money transfers from Yandaş in December 2021, and afterward, numerous betting coupons-including those for Fenerbahçe Sports Club football matches-were placed on legal betting sites.

Yandaş Allegedly ‘Took Actions Aimed at Influencing Competition Results’

Review of suspect Yandaş’s digital materials revealed coupon images indicating bets were placed on the Fenerbahçe football team, for which he plays, suggesting Yandaş took actions to influence competition results by betting through suspect Ersen Dikmen, autonomous of his team affiliation.

the decision letter stated that suspect Kerem Yusuf Sirkeci, an active player for Fatih Karagümrük AŞ, had an account on the “Nesine” website and bet on the Fenerbahçe-Fatih Karagümrük AŞ match on October 19, 2025, with a “over 1.5” bet, and on the Samsunspor-Fatih Karagümrük AŞ match in 2021, betting “the opposing team will win.”

The decision indicated that Sirkeci had messages suggesting he had committed