Match Fixing Scandal In Turkey Enters New Round, Legal Federation Of 102 Players, Including Galatasaray Players

JAKARTA - The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has temporarily banned 102 top club players due to the increasingly widespread score-fixing scandal.

TFF suspended 25 players from Super Lig and 77 players from the second division (1. Lig) with a period of time ranging from 45 days to one year.

Galatasaray and Turkey defender, Eren Elmali, was suspended for 45 days. Turkey's club team-mate and center-back U-21, Metehan Baltaci, was suspended for nine months.

Elmali posted on Instagram this week that he was betting on a game about five years ago that didn't involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray this year.

More than 1,000 players have been referred to the TFF Professional Football Disciplinary Council in an ongoing investigation.

The federation has closed third-degree (2. Lig) and fourth (3. Lig) divisions for two weeks, but has allowed Super Lig - led by defending champion Galatasaray - and second division to continue.

TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu vowed this week to clear Turkey's football of corruption, scandal, and unethical practices.

"We took office 16 months ago with the promise to lift Turkish football to a viable level."

"We will not compromise in our struggle to protect Turkish football from scandals, damage, and corrupt relations," he said.