Osimhen loses two teammates as Turkish Federation issues suspensions to over 100 players for betting

The Turkish football landscape has been rocked by a sweeping betting investigation, and the fallout has now reached Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray camp.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced more than 100 player suspensions on Thursday, marking one of the largest disciplinary crackdowns in recent football history.

According to the TFF’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK), a total of 102 players have been officially sanctioned following an extensive probe into illegal betting activities involving more than 1,000 athletes across Turkish football.

The penalties vary widely, ranging from 45-day suspensions to year-long bans, depending on the severity of each player’s alleged involvement.

The investigation was triggered after TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoğlu revealed that hundreds of referees were discovered with betting accounts, prompting a deep dive into both officiating and player conduct.

The scandal expands far beyond the pitch, as 149 referees have also been suspended, and Turkish prosecutors have issued 21 detention orders, including against high-profile football executives such as Eyupspor President Murat Ozkaya and former Kasimpasa chairman Fatih Sarac.

With 27 active Super Lig players still under investigation, and some claiming identity theft, the scandal continues to widen. UEFA, meanwhile, has confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely.

Among the sanctioned players are two teammates of Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen at Galatasaray, deepening the impact of the scandal on the club.

Metehan Baltacı received a nine-month ban, one of the longest issued to a Turkish player, while defender Eren Elmali was suspended for 45 days. Their absences will undoubtedly affect Galatasaray’s squad depth as the club navigates domestic and European commitments.

Beyond Galatasaray, several Super Lig teams were heavily affected. Konyaspor’s Alassane Ndao, the only foreign player on the suspension list, was handed the harshest penalty, a 12-month ban.

Multiple clubs, including Trabzonspor, Kayserispor, Alanyaspor, and Rizespor, saw players receive three-month and 45-day suspensions.

The disciplinary wave has rattled the league, raising serious questions about player welfare, data security, and oversight within Turkish football. As the investigation deepens, more names may still emerge, leaving the league bracing for further repercussions.