A rally allegation by Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), leader Özgür Özel that a 5.5-million “red card” wager was placed in Northern Cyprus on the day a controversial Göztepe sending-off has triggered an ex officio investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor and widened an already sprawling probe into betting in Turkish football.
Speaking at an Esenyurt rally, Özel said, “There are 571 referees in Turkey. You’ve governed for 23 years; this entire system was built in your time. Of those 571, 371 have betting accounts, 152 have actively bet. A referee shows an unjust red card to Göztepe, and on the same day someone in Northern Cyprus places a 5.5 million red-card bet.” The prosecutor’s office treated the remarks as a denunciation and opened an investigation on its own motion into the event and those involved.
The legal action dovetails with the Turkish Football Federation’s parallel inquiry. TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said more than 3,700 footballers are now being examined as part of the betting probe, which will extend to managers, observers and club representatives, as well as former referees who work as television pundits. He emphasized that opening a betting account is not a crime, but active betting is, and added that 80% of wagers identified relate to foreign matches.
Hacıosmanoğlu said that if a referee did not bet on his own match and no manipulation benefiting a specific team is proven, “there is no legal penalty,” while stressing that prosecutors will probe the illegal dimension. Addressing the high-profile case of Süper Lig referee Zorbay Küçük—who has filed a criminal complaint denying any betting and alleging identity theft—he noted: “Our data showed activity; we asked for re‑verification. We are not on a witch-hunt. No one will receive privilege, and no one will suffer unjust treatment.”
Disciplinary fallout has already followed. The Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) announced bans of 8 to 12 months for 149 referees and assistant referees among 152 sent to the body over betting allegations. Reviews continue for Zorbay Küçük, upper‑category referee Melih Kurt and category referee Mertcan Tubay, PFDK chair Başbuğ Pınarbaşı said.
Pressure from clubs is rising. Beşiktaş announced it has applied to intervene in the prosecutor’s case, asking that the investigation be expanded to determine whether any of its matches over the past five seasons were unlawfully made the subject of betting via referees or other suspects, and pledged full cooperation with authorities.
The Northern Cyprus dimension is pivotal. The claim of a single, massive wager across the water highlights how betting networks straddle jurisdictions, complicating evidence collection when conduct in Turkey links to transactions executed in Northern Cyprus. With its sizable gambling sector, the island attracts Turkish bettors; the allegation will intensify scrutiny of cross‑border flows and controls and the potential for match-related markets to be exploited.
Photo: Gemini AI