"The arrests and warrants come only a week after the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees and assistant referees following an investigation which found numerous bets being placed on football matches which officials working in Turkey's professional leagues were in charge of. TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu described the situation as a "moral crisis in Turkish football." In response, through a joint statement on Wednesday, the referees called the allegations "outrageous accusations.""
"A statement on Friday from Istanbul's chief prosecutor's office added that on grounds of abuse of duty and manipulating match results, the arrests had been ordered. According to a number of local outlets, including Cumhuriyet newspaper, the statement added that Murat Ozkaya, president of Turkish Super Lig club Eyupspor, and Fatih Sarac, former owner of Kasimpasa, were also being questioned as part of the probe."
Turkish prosecutors issued arrest orders for several referees, assistant referees and the chairman of an unnamed Super Lig club after an investigation into alleged betting on top-level matches. At least 18 of 21 suspects were detained following coordinated early-morning raids across Istanbul and 11 other provinces. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office said the 17 referees face investigation for possibly influencing match outcomes and for abuse of duty and manipulating match results. The Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after a probe found numerous bets placed on matches officiated by officials in Turkey's professional leagues. Club figures Murat Ozkaya and Fatih Sarac were reported to be questioned as part of the probe, and one person faces arrest for spreading misleading social media information. Referees denied betting on matches they officiated, calling the allegations outrageous and saying some betting occurred when they were amateur referees.
Read at www.dw.com
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