Turkish Football Rocked by Betting and Match-Fixing Scandal: Players Face Lengthy Prison Sentences

A major scandal involving illegal betting and match-fixing has engulfed Turkish football, with several prominent players and officials facing significant prison sentences. The investigation, dubbed “Futbolda bahis-şike” (Betting and Match-Fixing in Football), has led to the indictment of 34 individuals, including Galatasaray footballer Metehan Baltacı and Fenerbahçe captain Mert Hakan Yandaş.

Indictments and Potential Penalties

According to reports from Ozgur Kocaeli and Haber Sol, prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to 13 years for both Metehan Baltacı and Mert Hakan Yandaş. Baltacı is accused of “computing systems fraud” and “match-fixing and incentive bonuses,” while Yandaş faces charges of “qualified fraud” and the same match-fixing offenses. Haberler.com also reports that prosecutors are requesting sentences ranging from 4 to 13 years for both players.

However, Haber Sol indicates that the indictment against Yandaş and Baltacı requests a sentence of up to 17 years in prison.

Details of the Allegations

The investigation revealed that Metehan Baltacı placed bets on matches involving his own team, Galatasaray, specifically games against Rizespor in March 2021 and Goztepe in April 2021. He reportedly placed these bets as an individual consumer without disclosing his professional footballer status to the bookmakers.

Wider Implications and Previous Actions

This case is part of a larger crackdown on betting and match-fixing in Turkish football. In the fall of 2025, Ibrahim Hadjiomanoglu, the head of the Turkish Football Federation, announced the suspension of 149 referees for betting on football matches. A subsequent investigation revealed that 1,024 players were also suspected of involvement in betting activities.

Potential Club Penalties

The potential for penalties extending to the clubs, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, is currently under discussion. OdaTV reports that legal experts suggest that clubs would only be held responsible if evidence emerges demonstrating that the actions were organized or sanctioned by the clubs themselves. According to Spor Hukukçusu Av. Özcan Yüksel, the players’ status as employees of the clubs does not automatically implicate the clubs in the alleged wrongdoing unless a direct link to club-level organization is established.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

The indictments have been sent to the Istanbul 3rd Penal Court for review. Separate cases have been opened for each of the 34 suspects, which also include referees Erkan Arslan, Nevzat Okat, Yakup Yapıcı, Ahmet Kıvanç Kader, Nurullah Bayram, and Baran Karaman, as well as other players and a Turkish Football Federation official, Buğra Cem İmamoğulları, and Fenerbahçe Kongre Üyesi Ersen Dikmen.