371 referees involved in betting in Türkiye: Mourinho was right
TFF confirms 371/571 referees have betting accounts, more than 150 people still gamble regularly; bias suspicions at PFDK push Super Lig into a crisis of confidence.
Turkish football shaken: in Istanbul, Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu admitted that 371 out of 571 active referees own betting accounts, of which more than 150 are still regularly gambling. There are cases of betting up to 18,000 times, some involving more than 1,000 matches. These numbers turn Jose Mourinho's previous warning about the "gray and smelly" Super Lig into an accurate prediction.
Super Lig earthquake: TFF exposes its own system
“We started by cleaning our own house,” Haciosmanoglu said. The statement shows determination, but also exposes the level of corruption in the operating system. Under current regulations, referees involved in betting can be banned from 3 months to 1 year. However, with 371 out of 571 people named, the problem is not just personal discipline but an institutional crisis.
From Mourinho's warning to systemic crisis
Since taking charge of Fenerbahce in the summer of 2024, Jose Mourinho has repeatedly criticized the quality of referees and the Turkish football environment, and has been fined and banned from coaching. At that time, many people thought he was trying to attract attention. But the data recently released by the TFF makes Mourinho reconsider his opinion: this is a structural problem, not a few "bad apples".
Meanwhile, journalist Tahir Kum’s revelations about internal messages from the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee (PFDK) — the so-called “supreme court” of Turkish football — have further added to the crisis. According to them, some members are said to have shared biased messages, even mocking Mourinho and Fenerbahce, implying “to teach Mourinho a lesson.” If these contents are verified, the problem has gone beyond the personal level to become a crisis of confidence at the institutional level.
The numbers speak for themselves.
- 371/571 referees have betting accounts (according to TFF).
- More than 150 referees still gamble regularly.
- Some people bet up to 18,000 times; some people are involved in more than 1,000 matches.
- Current penalty: 3 months to 1 year ban for referees participating in betting.
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| The referee in practice | 571 |
| Referee has betting account | 371 |
| Referees gamble regularly | More than 150 |
| Highest bet (an individual) | 18,000 times |
| Match related (an individual) | More than 1,000 matches |
The breaking point of faith
Less than two years after the Ankaragucu President rushed onto the field and punched referee Halil Umut Meler, now it is the turn of a series of “men in black” to be accused of betting. When referees, disciplinary bodies and the upper echelons are all involved in scandals, the biggest question is not the sentence for each individual, but the restoration of the audience’s trust: how many penalties and red cards in the past 5 years are “clean”?
Consequences and reform requirements
From a governance perspective, the TFF’s message of “cleaning house” is a necessary start. But given the scale of the violations, disciplinary measures alone are unlikely to be enough to restore confidence. The Super Lig—a league that once prided itself on its vibrant atmosphere—is facing its most profound ethics crisis in modern history. As Mourinho once said: “You just have to let football speak for itself.” This time, reality has spoken for him.
Conclude
The refereeing scandal has not only distorted the game, but also threatened the legitimacy of the entire Turkish football ecosystem. If the future of the Super Lig is to be preserved, it is no longer a matter of “cleaning up” but of rebuilding from the foundation — of transparency in the process, of ensuring sports justice and of restoring audience confidence.