Star players arrested in Turkish football scandal

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Star players arrested in Turkish football scandal
Photo: Francisco Seco/APO/TT

The betting scandal in Turkish football is growing. In a police raid on Friday morning, star players Mert Hakan Yandas, Fenerbahce, and Metehan Baltaci, Galatasaray, were arrested, among others.

Prosecutors in Istanbul issued arrest warrants on Friday for 46 people, including 29 football players.

27 of the players are suspected of having played for their own team in matches in which they themselves participated, according to prosecutors.

The scandal exploded in October when it became known that 152 professional football referees in Turkey were being investigated for betting money on football matches over the past five years. Later, 149 referees were suspended and six of them were arrested.

Shortly afterwards, 1,024 players were temporarily suspended for betting money on matches.

Of these, 27 play in the top division, but a full 77 players have club addresses in the second highest division, according to a list published by the Turkish Football Federation.

Television commentators and leading figures in several clubs are also included in the investigation.

Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, president of the Turkish Football Federation, has promised to protect the country's national sport from "scandals, decay and corrupt relationships."

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By TT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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