ISTANBUL (TURKEY) (ITALPRESS) – An earthquake has shaken Turkish football. Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, president of the Turkish Football Federation, announced at a press conference that “371 of the 571 referees active in professional leagues have a betting account. And of these, 152 are actively betting.”
This shocking revelation is based on an investigation launched last April by the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office. Haciosmanoglu, going into detail, specified that “10 referees have placed over 10,000 bets, one has placed 18,227 bets alone, 42 referees have placed bets on over 1,000 football matches individually, and some referees have placed bets on a single match.” The data has been shared with FIFA and UEFA.
“It will be our duty to clean up Turkish football,” he added. “We are saddened that, despite the regulations being clear, some referees have opened accounts in their own names to bet.” The clubs have reacted strongly, demanding the names of the referees and assistants involved. “The Federation must transparently disclose the names of the referees who have betting accounts and actively use them, the matches these referees bet on, and the types of bets placed,” Besiktas thundered, ready to take legal action.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
