The Turkish Süper Lig is no stranger to controversy, but few stories have rocked its foundations quite like the ongoing referee betting scandal.
What began as a quiet internal probe in April 2025 has since spiralled into a crisis that threatens the very integrity of Turkish football.
According to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), 371 of the country’s 571 registered referees were found to have betting accounts. Even more shockingly, 152 of them had placed active wagers — including seven senior referees and 15 assistants who regularly officiate top-flight matches.
While investigations remain ongoing, early findings have revealed staggering patterns. Ten referees reportedly placed bets on over 10,000 games each, while one individual was linked to over 18,000 wagers. The TFF has already proposed disciplinary measures ranging from temporary bans to three-year suspensions, pending further review.
A league struggling to protect its integrity
The revelations have plunged Turkish football into turmoil. Although the TFF insists that referees not under active investigation can continue officiating, the scale of the issue has left the federation scrambling to keep fixtures staffed. With over 200 officials unaffected, matches have proceeded — but under an atmosphere of mistrust and uncertainty.
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Despite the betting surge, the TFF has not confirmed whether any referees wagered on games they personally oversaw. This lack of clarity has only intensified suspicions of possible match-fixing, a shadow that Turkish football has battled for years.
Some referees, including the high-profile official Küçük, have denied any wrongdoing, claiming their personal details were stolen and used for fraudulent betting accounts. Identity theft has therefore become a central thread in the federation’s investigation. However, as evidence mounts, observers argue that the scandal’s scope suggests in-depth cultural and systemic failings, not isolated fraud.
Mourinho’s long-awaited ‘I told you so’
Perhaps no one feels more vindicated than José Mourinho. Months before the scandal surfaced, the former Fenerbahçe manager had voiced fierce criticism of Turkish officiating. In January 2025, he described the Süper Lig as “toxic” and said he would have declined his role had he known the true state of refereeing in the country.
His frustrations were already clear in November 2024, after a controversial loss to Trabzonspor, where he launched an eight-minute tirade on live television. Sarcastically naming a VAR official “Man of the Match,” Mourinho accused Turkish referees of incompetence and bias — comments that drew fines but also resonated widely.
Now, as details of the betting probe unfold, Mourinho’s words have gained new weight. What many dismissed as another of his emotional outbursts appears to have been a pointed warning about an underlying rot.
The road ahead for Turkish football
The scandal comes at a time when the Süper Lig had begun regaining global attention, thanks to star signings and a renewed sense of competitiveness. Yet, the betting revelations threaten to overshadow on-field progress with questions about fairness and transparency.
For the TFF, restoring credibility will be a long process. It must balance accountability with stability and ensure that reforms do not paralyse domestic competitions. Meanwhile, fans and players alike are demanding sweeping change to safeguard the sport’s integrity.
As the investigation continues, one truth that has become painfully clear is that the crisis has stripped away football’s moral facade in Turkey. And as Mourinho foresaw, when those who hold the whistle lose their honour, the game itself stands on the brink of chaos.
Tags: Turkish Süper Lig, TFF, Turkish Football Federation, Turkey’s betting scandal, José Mourinho, Fenerbahce, Trabzonspor, Zorbay Küçük.
