Turkey detains 32 in nationwide football betting probe after dawn raids in 10 provinces

Istanbul prosecutors say club executives and other suspects used online betting accounts to wager on matches involving their own teams — including bets placed against their clubs during official fixtures.

Turkish authorities detained 32 suspects on 20 February 2026 in a coordinated operation spanning 10 provinces, acting on detention warrants issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for 33 people. One suspect was still being sought after the raids, according to the prosecutor’s statement.

Prosecutors allege the suspects — which include football club executives — held online betting accounts and placed wagers on matches involving their own teams, including bets backing the opposition in official games. The prosecutor’s office did not disclose the identities of the detainees or the clubs involved.

The arrests are part of a wider integrity drive in Turkish football that has expanded through recent months, as authorities intensify efforts against illegal betting and match-fixing allegations across professional leagues.

If the case progresses, the key industry takeaway is the same one regulators have been signalling across markets: enforcement is increasingly targeting not just bookmakers and intermediaries, but also insiders who allegedly use betting accounts to profit from outcomes tied directly to their own teams.