Mourinho’s Warnings Vindicated as 152 Turkish Referees Face Sanctions Over Widespread Betting Scandal

Key Takeaways:

• Turkish authorities have launched disciplinary action after discovering 152 referees were actively gambling, following a five-year investigation
• Among 571 match officials, 371 held betting accounts, with 42 referees placing wagers on over 1,000 fixtures each
• The Turkish Football Federation is preparing sanctions, and FIFA regulations could impose football-wide bans and fines nearing £95,000

Investigation Reveals Profound Gambling Issues Among Referees

Turkish football finds itself embroiled in turmoil as a comprehensive five-year probe uncovered that 152 referees have been participating in gambling activities. The scale of the issue became apparent as it was found that out of 571 officials nationwide, 371 possessed betting accounts, and among them, 152 were confirmed to be actively placing wagers.

While some officials made only a single bet, an alarming 42 referees wagered on more than 1,000 matches. The investigation’s most extreme discovery identified a referee who placed an astonishing 18,227 bets. These findings extend into the top two divisions – the Super Lig and the second tier – involving seven referees as well as 15 assistant referees.

🚨 Referee scandal in Turkey! 🇹🇷

Over 370 referees,were found with betting accounts, and 150+ actively placed bets 😳

Earlier, Jose Mourinho called the officiating in Turkey 'toxic' for which he faced backlash.

Guess 'the special one' had the last laugh 🙃 pic.twitter.com/B0nvXCk8x4

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) October 27, 2025

Mourinho’s Criticisms and Outcome of the Probe

Jose Mourinho, recognised for his forthright opinions during his spell at Fenerbahce, had often voiced his dissatisfaction with the level of officiating. His frustrations, now justified in light of the probe’s revelations, highlighted the entrenched challenges within Turkish football officiating.

Mourinho previously commented: “We are not fighting the opposing team, we are fighting the system. And fighting the system is the hardest thing. Before coming to Turkey I heard these stories, but honestly I didn’t believe them. But after actually coming here, it was much more serious than what I heard.

“I have complaints about the people at Fenerbahce who brought me here. They told half the truth and hid the rest. If I had known everything, I wouldn’t have come.”

Despite the widespread impact of the controversy, there is currently no indication from investigators that any matches involving Mourinho’s Fenerbahce side were compromised due to referee betting.

Anticipated Disciplinary Measures and Official Response

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has commenced disciplinary proceedings, referencing their rulebook which allows for suspensions of up to twelve months for officials found to have gambled. However, under FIFA’s stricter guidelines, referees implicated in the scandal could potentially face three-year bans from all football-related activity and incur fines approaching £95,000.

TFF president Ethem Haciosmanoglu reflected on the urgent need for reform: “If we want to bring Turkish football to the place it deserves, we have to clean up whatever dirt there is.”

Fenerbahce’s president Sadettin Saran described the revelations as both startling and deeply distressing, but maintained that exposing these issues could pave the way for long-term positive changes: “This is both shocking and deeply saddening for Turkish football, but the face that it is coming to light is a hopeful development.”

Scope of Referee Gambling in Turkiye (Last Five Years)