Dozens of soccer players and officials were arrested Friday in Istanbul as part of a wide-ranging investigation into a betting scandal that has rocked Turkish football.

Among those detained in early morning raids were top players Mert Hakan Yandas of Fenerbahce and Metehan Baltaci of national champions Galatasaray. Former referee and commentator Ahmet Cakar, along with current referee Zorbay Kucuk, were also taken into custody.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 46 suspects, with 35 already detained, including chairs and vice-chairs of several professional clubs. Prosecutors said Baltaci placed bets on his own team’s games, while Yandas allegedly bet through intermediaries. Seven others were arrested over suspicious financial transactions linked to betting.

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All suspects were detained under a law aimed at preventing disorder in sport, which criminalizes match manipulation and carries sentences of one to three years, with higher penalties if linked to betting markets or professional leagues.

The Turkish Football Federation has been investigating referees and players since October, temporarily banning over 100 professionals last month. Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu pledged to safeguard Turkish football from “scandal, decay, and corrupt relationships.”

Source: AP