Over 1,000 players suspended in widening Turkish football betting investigation

The Turkish Football Federation has suspended over 1,000 players amid a growing investigation into betting.

Among them is Eren Elmali, a defender for the Turkish national side who has been a regular for Galatasaray in the Champions League this season. The 25-year-old, who joined the Istanbul-based side this year, has said he bet on a game about five years ago that did not involve his own team.

He posted a statement on Instagram late on Monday to explain his involvement in the case, after he was pulled from the Turkey squad preparing to play World Cup qualifying games against Spain and Bulgaria. Elmali and his Galatasaray teammate Metehan Baltaci are among 1,024 players listed by the Turkish Football Federation on Monday as being referred to a disciplinary committee.

The federation announced that Turkey's third and fourth tiers will be suspended for two weeks. However, matches in the top division, the Super League, led by reigning champion Galatasaray, as well as the second division, will proceed as scheduled.

Turkish football is reeling from investigations into claims that both referees and players have been involved in betting on matches, a practice prohibited by FIFA. Read more from Sky News:Unemployment rate jumps to highest level since COVIDPolice release update on Bob Vylan Glastonbury probe Over 150 referees are accused of placing bets on matches, among them seven officials licensed for top-tier games and 15 top-level assistant referees.

“Our duty is to elevate Turkish football to its rightful place and to purge it of all its filth,” Turkish federation president İbrahim Hacıosmanoglu said at a news conference two weeks ago. Turkish football has seen a resurgence in recent years, with the country set to co-host Euro 2032 with Italy, the national team reaching the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, and Istanbul chosen to host several UEFA finals..