Turkey Football Betting Scandal: Indictments Filed Against Players, Referees, and Officials

Istanbul prosecutors have completed their investigation into a widespread betting scandal that has rocked Turkish football, resulting in indictments against 34 suspects. The investigation centers on allegations of match-fixing and illegal betting activities, with potential ramifications for the integrity of the sport in Turkey.

Investigation Details and Allegations

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated the investigation following evidence presented by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) in October 2025, which indicated widespread betting activity among referees. The TFF pledged to implement reforms to restore public confidence in officiating. Source

The indictments include referees, football players, a Turkish Football Federation official, and a Fenerbahçe Congress Member. Specifically named are referees Erkan Arslan, Nevzat Okat, Yakup Yapıcı, Ahmet Kıvanç Kader, Nurullah Bayram, and Baran Karaman. Source

Players indicted include Kerem Yusuf Sirkeci, Emircan Çiçek, Bartu Kaya, İzzet Furkan Malak, Metehan Baltacı, Yunus Emre Tekoğul, Faruk Can Genç, Kadir Kaan Yurdakul, Orkun Özdemir, Alassane Ndao, Abdurrahman Bayram, Bahattin Berke Demircan, Doğukan Çınar, Eyüpcan Temiz, Furkan Demir, Gökhan Payal, İbrahim Yılmaz, Mustafa Çeçenoğlu, Ergün Nazlı, Hamit Bayraktar, Hüseyin Aybars Tüfekci, İlke Tankul, Mert Aktaş, İsmail Karakaş, Tufan Kelleci, and Mert Hakan Yandaş. Buğra Cem İmamoğulları, a TFF official, and Ersen Dikmen, a Fenerbahçe Congress Member, are also listed as suspects. Source

Specific Cases: Baltacı and Yandaş

The indictment details specific allegations against players Metehan Baltacı and Mert Hakan Yandaş. Investigations revealed that Baltacı placed bets on matches whereas being in “playable” status, specifically the Galatasaray – Rizespor match on March 19, 2021, and the Göztepe – Galatasaray match on April 17, 2021, betting on over 2.5 total goals in both games. Source

Prosecutors allege that Baltacı, despite not being in the starting lineup for these matches, possessed privileged information regarding team tactics and player condition, giving him an unfair advantage. A request for a prison sentence of 4 to 13 years has been made for Baltacı. Source

Regarding Yandaş, the indictment claims he used Ersen Dikmen as an intermediary to place bets. Reports indicate that Yandaş transferred 4 million 453 thousand 62 liras to Dikmen between December 4, 2021, and October 26, 2025, which Dikmen then used to fund bets on various platforms. Source

Dikmen is alleged to have placed hundreds of bets, both for and against Fenerbahçe, including 182 slips specifically on Fenerbahçe matches across multiple betting platforms. Communication records and financial transactions reportedly link the two suspects, suggesting a coordinated betting scheme. Source

Prosecutors argue that Yandaş, by using Dikmen, attempted to conceal his involvement and gain an unfair advantage by leveraging his inside knowledge of the team. A prison sentence of 4 years and 10 months to 17 years and 10 months has been requested for Yandaş. Source

Ongoing Investigation

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has stated that the fight against match-fixing and illegal betting in Turkish football will continue with further planned operations. Source