An Istanbul court has ordered the detention of 11 professional footballers from Turkey’s top two divisions amid a rapidly expanding illegal betting and match-fixing investigation, according to local reports. Nine of the players are suspected of wagering on matches involving their own clubs.
Among those charged are Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltacı, Alassane Ndao of Konyaspor, and Fenerbahçe midfielder Mert Hakan Yandaş, a Turkish international accused of placing bets through an intermediary. The development marks one of the most high-profile escalations yet in a scandal that has sent shockwaves through Turkish football.
In addition to the players, judges ordered the provisional detention of nine further suspects, which reportedly includes the presidents of two third-division clubs alleged to have conspired to manipulate match outcomes during the 2023–24 season. A further 19 individuals were released on bail, four of them current Süper Lig players.
The case forms part of a sweeping investigation launched by the Istanbul public prosecutor, under which around 40 people were arrested last week. Authorities are probing claims of widespread illegal betting activity, match manipulation, and coordinated schemes involving club officials and players.
The scandal has already produced significant fallout. Earlier in November, six referees and the president of top-flight club Eyüpspor were imprisoned, while the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) dismissed nearly 150 referees last month for alleged involvement in betting activity.
The investigation continues to widen, raising serious concerns about the integrity of competition within Turkish football and prompting renewed calls for structural reform, accountability, and transparency at all levels of the domestic game.
