• Turkish football rocked by massive corruption scandal implicating 152 referees in illegal betting activities
• Turkish Football Federation launches strict disciplinary measures as investigations uncover thousands of bets and top-level officials involved

In a shocking development described as "the biggest in the history of Turkish sports," media reports revealed a massive corruption scandal shaking the refereeing system, involving 152 referees in illegal betting activities

The scandal not only exposed serious integrity flaws in competitions but also confirmed warnings previously issued by Portuguese coach José Mourinho during his tenure at Fenerbahçe

Mourinho’s criticisms, which repeatedly targeted the "corrupt federation," highlighted issues beyond ordinary on-field errors

Staggering numbers – 18,000 bets for a single referee

The disastrous findings emerged from five years of thorough investigations by Turkish sports authorities, covering 571 referees and officiating officials across all levels of competition

Shocking statistics revealed

• 371 officials with active betting accounts
• 152 referees actively involved in repeated betting
• 7 top-level referees officiating in the Turkish Süper Lig and first division implicated
• 15 top-level assistant referees also involved

Investigators found that some referees bet on both domestic and international matches. In one extreme case, a single referee had placed over 18,000 bets, illustrating the scale of the scandal

Mourinho: I was fighting the refereeing… the truth was worse

Preliminary reports indicated no direct link between the betting activities and Fenerbahçe matches during Mourinho’s tenure. However, the scandal validated the concerns of the “Special One,” whose previous outspoken criticisms were met with skepticism

Mourinho, known for his candor, summarized the situation: "We are not fighting the opposing team, we are fighting the system itself, and fighting the system is the hardest part in football

He also expressed feeling betrayed by Fenerbahçe management, accusing them of withholding the full truth before he signed the contract: I feel disappointed by those who brought me to Fenerbahçe. They told me half the truth and hid the other half. Had I known everything, I wouldn’t have agreed to come

Turkish Federation begins “cleansing,” FIFA monitors closely

In response to the scandal, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced it has officially launched strict disciplinary procedures against all involved referees. According to TFF regulations, any referee caught betting faces suspension for up to one year

However, the case may escalate further under FIFA rules, which allow bans of up to three years for referees involved in betting, along with fines of up to £95,000

Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu acknowledged the severity of the situation: If we want to restore Turkish football to its rightful place, we must eliminate all corruption. This is a painful but necessary step

Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Sarar commented: The incident is shocking but revealing. It is extremely unfortunate and sad for Turkish football, yet it is also a positive development because the truth is finally emerging. We cannot build a fair future without confronting this reality