Turkish football woke to another seismic jolt on Friday as prosecutors rolled out a sweeping pre-dawn operation that pulled players, club executives, agents and even former referee-turned-television provocateur Ahmet Çakar into custody, deepening a betting scandal already shaking the sport from its foundations.
By midday, the aftershocks had intensified: Fenerbahçe captain Mert Hakan Yandaş and Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltacı were detained in a second wave, thrusting the scandal squarely into the heart of the Süper Lig’s most powerful clubs.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed at least 46 early-morning detentions across multiple provinces, the most aggressive phase yet of an investigation expanding steadily from the Süper Lig down to amateur leagues.
Authorities say many of the suspects are tied to manipulated performances, coordinated betting rings and insider leaks funneled to offshore gambling hubs.
Most wagers were allegedly placed on 2. Lig and 3. Lig matches, where oversight is thinner and players operate on tighter budgets.
Investigators seized encrypted chats, bank transfers and electronic devices
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