Galatasaray Caught in Betting Scandal as Turkish Football Faces Major Crisis

Turkish football has been plunged into chaos after the country’s Football Federation (TFF) suspended over 1,000 professional players in connection with a massive betting and match-fixing scandal.

Victor Osimhen’s club, Galatasaray, is among several top teams caught in the crisis that has rocked the Turkish Super Lig. The Nigerian striker, who is one of the league’s biggest stars, is not involved in the scandal but now finds himself in a club under intense scrutiny.

Authorities confirmed that eight people, including a first-division club president, have been arrested following investigations into illegal gambling networks allegedly involving footballers, referees, and club officials.

The TFF said players found to have placed bets on football matches, in violation of FIFA and UEFA rules, have been referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK). Twenty-seven of the suspended players are from the top division, while hundreds more come from the lower leagues.

Due to the scale of the suspensions, the TFF has postponed all third- and fourth-division matches for two weeks, citing player shortages. It has also requested an extension of the winter transfer window to allow clubs to rebuild their squads.

The scandal has exposed widespread breaches of integrity. The TFF president, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, revealed that 371 out of 571 referees in the country were linked to betting accounts, with 152 actively placing bets. One referee reportedly placed more than 18,000 wagers, while another bet on over 1,000 matches.

The development represents one of the biggest corruption crises in European football history.

Reports indicate that two Galatasaray players, Eren Elmalı and Metehan Baltacı, are among those referred to the disciplinary board. Players from Besiktas and Trabzonspor have also been named in the investigations.

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray permanently this summer after a record €75 million transfer from Napoli, remains focused on football. The 26-year-old has scored six goals in three Champions League games and continues to be linked with major clubs across Europe and the Middle East.

However, as the scandal deepens, questions remain over whether high-profile players like Osimhen will continue their careers in Turkey amid the growing uncertainty surrounding the nation’s football system.