Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

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14:24-13 November 2025 AD ـ 24 Jumada Al-Ula 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

14:24-13 November 2025 AD ـ 24 Jumada Al-Ula 1447 AH

Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Turkish soccer temporarily banned 102 top-tier club players on Thursday over a widening betting scandal.

The Turkish Football Federation suspended 25 players from the Super Lig and 77 from the second-tier first division for terms ranging from 45 days to one year.

Galatasaray and Türkiye defender Eren Elmali was suspended for 45 days. Club teammate and Türkiye Under-21 center back Metehan Baltaci was suspended for nine months. Konyaspor and Senegal winger Alassane Ndao received a 12-month suspension.

Elmali posted on Instagram this week that he bet on a game about five years ago that did not involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray this year, The AP news reported.

Baltacı also admitted past bets but insisted they were not games he played in.

“Years ago I placed a bet at a time when I couldn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the matter," he said. “I want to make it clear that this action had nothing to do with matches played by the teams I represented.”

The bans apply to matches but the players can continue training, Haberturk television reported.

More than 1,000 players have been referred to the federation’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board in the ongoing investigation.

The federation has shut down the third- and fourth-tier divisions for two weeks but allowed the Super Lig — led by defending champion Galatasaray — and second tier to continue.

Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu vowed this week to cleanse Turkish soccer from corruption, scandal and unethical practices.

“We took office 16 months ago with a promise to elevate Turkish football to the level it deserves," he said. “We will not compromise in our fight to protect Turkish football from scandal, decay, and corrupt relationships.”

Turkish soccer has been rocked by investigations into alleged widespread betting by referees, and now players, on games which is prohibited by FIFA.

More than 150 referees are alleged to have bet on games, including seven who are approved to handle top-level games and 15 top-level assistants.

The scandal is a setback to Turkish soccer's revival in recent years.

The country will co-host the men’s 2032 European Championship with Italy, the national team reached the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, and Istanbul has been picked by UEFA to stage several finals in European club competitions.

Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

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10:33-22 September 2026 AD ـ 11 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

10:33-22 September 2026 AD ـ 11 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

French racer Isack Hadjar will make his Formula One return this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing the last three races, his Red Bull team said on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old missed GPs in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, and was replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson.

He had injured his wrist in training over the summer break.

"Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend," the team said in social media posts, according to AFP.

"Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City circuit on Thursday."

Lawson will return to the sister Racing Bulls team this weekend.
Japan's Yuki Tsunoda had filled in for Lawson during the last three Grand Prix.

Lawson scored 14 points during his Red Bull secondment, while Tsunoda managed a single point in the Racing Bulls seat.

Sports

Zidane Leads First France Training Session

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)

00:00-22 September 2026 AD ـ 11 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Zidane Leads First France Training Session

Zinedine Zidane oversaw his first training session with the France national team on Monday as Les Bleus prepared for the start of the new Nations League campaign.

Under the gaze of some 50 journalists, the 1998 World Cup winner led a dozen of his players through a light training session at the country's national football center, Clairefontaine.

With many of France's stars in action with their clubs across Europe last weekend, not all of Zidane's 23-man squad were present.

Michael Olise, Eduardo Camavinga, Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano featured in the 12-strong group but captain Kylian Mbappe, who played in Real Madrid's derby loss to Atletico Madrid on Sunday, was a notable absentee.

Zidane was joined for the session by his assistant David Bettoni, who worked alongside him at Real Madrid, and former team-mate from the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides, Fabien Barthez, who is France's goalkeeping coach.

The session concluded with a short practice match, followed by shots on goal from crosses delivered by Zidane himself.

France face four Nations League fixtures following this first training camp of the Zidane era: away matches in Türkiye and Belgium on September 25 and 28, followed by home matches against Italy and Belgium at the Stade de France in early October.

Sports

Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the DAZN pre-match interview ahead of the Club World Cup final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Metlife Stadium. (dpa)

23:45-21 September 2026 AD ـ 10 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday suggested a "consultation" with the member federations to reform the world football governing body's decision-making processes, in a letter addressed to the 211 member associations, and seen by AFP.

"I will propose that the Council establish a direct, structured and time-limited consultation with confederations, Member Associations and relevant stakeholders on how FIFA's decision-making can be further strengthened," Infantino wrote.

The 56-year-old Swiss has come under fire since his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the men's and women's World Cups.

"The consultation would invite specific proposals on earlier institutional involvement, the respective roles of the President, the Bureau, the Council and the Congress, and practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives," the letter continued.

Infantino asked for the initial proposals to be considered at the council meeting scheduled for October 15.

Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA in 2016. He has come under severe pressure since the announcement in late July of proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

The plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative. The backlash that followed led to the proposals being quickly shelved.

European football's governing body UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions. It later suspended that threat, but has urged Infantino to resign and has been preparing possible legal action against him for alleged "criminal mismanagement".

Infantino addressed FFE in his letter on Monday and wrote that "FIFA's democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale".

The plan also "did not involve relinquishing FIFA's control or authority over sporting decisions", he insisted.

- 'Clear and trusted' -

He further lamented the fact that the scheme "entered the public domain before FIFA's planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the Member Associations".

"I recognize that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," Infantino added.

"Major ideas must be developed, tested and communicated through clear and trusted institutions. That is a responsibility I take seriously."

UEFA, alongside North American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), issued a no-holds-barred joint letter against Infantino in August.

"Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held," they wrote.

FIFA confirmed earlier in September that Infantino will stand for re-election as president next March.

At this stage, he is the only candidate. However, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is widely seen as a likely challenger.

Candidate nominations for next year's election must be submitted by November 18.

Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

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