Prosecutors in Turkey have ordered the arrest of 46 people in connection with a major soccer betting scandal that has rocked the country in recent months. They have apprehended 35 of them so far, with five said to be overseas. Among the 46 individuals are 29 players from leading soccer clubs, as well as commentators and club presidents.
Fenerbahçe’s captain Mert Hakan Yandaş was also apprehended
Most of the players are alleged to have bet on games in which their own teams were playing. Reigning league champion Galatasaray’s Metehan Baltacı was one of the people who was detained. He has already gotten a nine-month ban from the sport for the betting offenses. Fenerbahçe’s captain Mert Hakan Yandaş was also apprehended, and police searched his house on Friday morning.
The scandal first erupted in October when Turkish FA President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu accused hundreds of referees of involvement in betting on games. Then, in November, it suspended over 1,000 players and postponed action from several leagues due to alleged infractions.
