Turkish prosecutors have ordered the detention of 29 additional suspects as part of a widening investigation into illegal betting linked to professional football, according to local media reports on Friday.
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Broadcaster NTV, citing a statement from the prosecutor’s office, said that 24 of the 29 suspects had already been detained. Among those taken into custody is Erden Timur, a former executive of Istanbul-based football club Galatasaray. Neither Timur nor the club immediately responded to requests for comment.
According to the statement, four other suspects were still being sought by authorities, while one individual named in the order was already in prison in connection with a separate case. The probe is part of an expanding crackdown on alleged insider betting and match-related gambling activities in Turkish football.
NTV reported that 14 of the suspects are players active in various Turkish leagues, though their identities were not disclosed. Six individuals are being investigated specifically for allegedly betting on a Turkish Super Lig match between Kasimpasa and Samsunspor played in October 2024.
The latest detentions come amid one of the largest integrity investigations in Turkish football in recent years. Last month, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees over allegations of betting on matches. The investigation has since broadened significantly, leading to the arrest of additional suspects and sweeping disciplinary action across the sport.
In a separate development, authorities previously arrested eight more people, including the chairman of a top-tier football club. The TFF also announced the suspension of 1,024 players from all leagues and imposed further bans as part of its disciplinary measures.
Earlier this month, prosecutors ordered the detention of 46 individuals, including footballers, club presidents, television commentators, and a referee, over allegations of insider betting. A Turkish court later ordered the jailing of 20 suspects, including Super Lig players, pending trial.
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The ongoing probe underscores growing concerns over match integrity in Turkey and has sent shockwaves through the country’s football community, with further arrests and disciplinary actions expected as investigations continue.