Turkey has suspended more than 1,000 footballers as part of a major investigation into illegal betting and corruption in the sport, according to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
The TFF announced that 1,024 players have been suspended following the recommendations of the Professional Football Board’s disciplinary committee, including 27 players from top-division clubs.
Matches in the third and fourth divisions have been halted for two weeks, while second-division games continue amid ongoing investigations.
The scandal first emerged last month when the TFF suspended 149 referees and assistant referees for involvement in illegal betting. Reports revealed that out of 571 referees nationwide, 371 held accounts with betting companies, with 152 directly placing bets on matches, including 7 top-level referees and 15 assistants.
Last week, 21 arrest warrants were issued, including for 17 referees and a chairman of a Super League club. On Monday, eight individuals, including a club chairman, were taken into custody.
TFF President Ibrahim Haji Osman described the corruption as a moral crisis for Turkish football and pledged to cleanse the sport of all forms of misconduct.
