How the Turkish soccer gambling scandal emerged and what happens next

Turkish soccer has been rocked by the ongoing gambling scandal that implicated hundreds of its match officials when the news broke in late 2025.

A far-reaching investigation ordered by Turkish Football Federation President, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, was instigated to “drain the swamp,” but instead, it revealed deeper, murkier waters that lie beneath. 

Now, with more than 1,000 players suspended and nearly two-thirds of elite referees implicated in illegal betting, Turkey faces the deepest crisis in its soccer history. It reflects long-standing issues that have shaped the modern era of the game in Turkey from fierce club rivalries, suspicions of favoritism, volatile fan culture, to a history of disputes over governance and fairness.

We look at how the situation materialized and what happens next in the hotbed that is soccer in Turkey? 

When you think of the game in the large Eurasian nation that spans the two continents, you are met with images of passion, fervor, fanaticism, hostility, and controversy. 

Turkish soccer isn’t for the faint-hearted, with the noise and color created by the strongly partisan fans in the crowd having a big impact on the pitch.