The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended 1,024 players across its professional leagues as part of a major investigation into football betting.
According to the TFF, the suspended players—including 27 from the Süper Lig, Turkey’s top division—have been referred to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) for further action.
In response to the suspensions, matches in the third and fourth tiers of Turkish football have been postponed for two weeks, while fixtures in the top two divisions will continue as scheduled.
To help clubs manage potential squad shortages, the TFF has requested an additional 15 days on top of the winter transfer window from FIFA, which is yet to comment on the request.
Besiktas, one of Turkey’s biggest clubs, confirmed that two of their players have been referred to the PFDK, emphasizing that the club has full confidence in the innocence of both players.
Local media reports also indicate that eight individuals, including a club chairman, have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigations.
The scandal first came to public attention on 27 October, when TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu revealed that hundreds of referees were allegedly linked to betting accounts, raising concerns about the integrity of Turkish football.
