Sports
TFF purge engulfs Çakar, Yandaş, Baltacı in most explosive sweep yet
Turkish football woke to another seismic jolt on Friday as prosecutors rolled out a sweeping pre-dawn operation that pulled players, club executives, agents and even former referee-turned-television provocateur Ahmet Çakar into custody, deepening a betting scandal already shaking the sport from its foundations.
By midday, the aftershocks had intensified: Fenerbahçe captain Mert Hakan Yandaş and Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltacı were detained in a second wave, thrusting the scandal squarely into the heart of the Süper Lig’s most powerful clubs.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed at least 46 early-morning detentions across multiple provinces, the most aggressive phase yet of an investigation expanding steadily from the Süper Lig down to amateur leagues.
Authorities say many of the suspects are tied to manipulated performances, coordinated betting rings and insider leaks funneled to offshore gambling hubs.
Most wagers were allegedly placed on 2. Lig and 3. Lig matches, where oversight is thinner and players operate on tighter budgets.
Investigators seized encrypted chats, bank transfers and electronic devices they believe map out a sophisticated network of match manipulation embedded in the lower divisions.
Yet Friday’s second wave made clear the reach now extends far beyond them.
Çakar under fire
The most dramatic moment of the dawn raids came at the Istanbul home of Ahmet Çakar, the 60-year-old former referee whose fiery, often polarizing TV commentary has made him one of Turkish sports media’s most recognizable figures.
Prosecutors suspect he used behind-the-scenes connections to pass sensitive information to betting groups, from early lineup intel to insights on referees.
He has not commented, but his detention reignited a national debate over the blurred intersection of influence, media and integrity.
The scandal’s momentum, however, accelerated sharply just hours later.
Yandaş and Baltacı detained
Shortly after 6:00 a.m., investigators detained Fenerbahçe captain Mert Hakan Yandaş at his Istanbul residence.
The 30-year-old midfielder, known for his bite, leadership and Europa League pedigree, is accused of placing bets on his own team’s fixtures through offshore platforms.
Digital records reportedly track his betting activity as far back as 2014, marking a stunning turn for a player central to Fenerbahçe’s recent resurgence.
The club has not issued a statement, but senior officials have convened an emergency board meeting to assess the fallout.
Alongside him, Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltacı was rearrested, deepening his already blemished disciplinary record.
The 24-year-old academy product had been suspended for nine months in November by the Professional Football Disciplinary Board for repeated betting violations, but investigators say new evidence recovered in Friday’s seizures links him to coordinated wagers on 2. Lig fixtures and possibly to broader match-fixing cells.
Baltacı, who debuted in the Süper Lig in 2023 and recently returned to training after his ban, now faces an indefinite absence pending formal charges.
Their detentions bring the number of footballers in custody to 27 – an escalation that drags the scandal unmistakably into Türkiye’s biggest clubs.
This sprawling investigation began exploding in late October, when Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu revealed that internal audits had uncovered betting accounts linked to 371 referees.
Of those, 152 had placed bets on matches they officiated or could influence. One referee alone made more than 18,000 bets, many concentrated on lower-division fixtures.
Hacıosmanoğlu called the revelations a “cancer” consuming Turkish football and vowed an uncompromising purge that would extend “from referees to players, coaches, doctors, interpreters – everyone inside the system.”
The response was immediate. Within 24 hours of his announcement, prosecutors launched the first wave of arrests, jailing referees and administrators and detaining Eyüpspor president Murat Özkaya, accused of applying pressure during promotion playoffs.
Soon afterward, the TFF banned 149 referees for eight to 12 months, clearing out nearly an entire officiating tier overnight.
By mid-November, the scope widened drastically.
On Nov. 11, the TFF referred over 1,000 footballers for disciplinary review – an unprecedented cross-section spanning the Süper Lig to amateur sides.
Two days later, 102 players were suspended, including early red flags tied to Baltacı.
The TFF urged leniency for isolated mistakes but said repeated betting represented “irreparable damage” to integrity. Cooperation with the Youth and Sports Ministry, FIFA and UEFA intensified as officials sought to frame the crisis not as an isolated Turkish phenomenon but part of a global fight against illegal wagering.
More than 1,100 bans have now been issued to referees, players, coaches and support staff, and the number continues to climb.
The deepest shockwaves remain centered in the lower divisions, where investigators have zeroed in on suspicious fixtures from the 2023-24 season – particularly in the 2. Lig’s Red and White Groups.
Unusual draws, synchronized substitutions and tactical patterns raised red flags, and intercepted WhatsApp messages allegedly show groups of players timing fouls, slowing tempo or coordinating in-match actions to meet betting lines, sometimes while communicating with agents tied to networks in Malta and Curaçao.
Clubs in crosshairs
The consequences for clubs have been immediate and harsh.
Some teams entered the winter window with 15%-20% of their squads dismantled overnight due to suspensions or arrests.
Diyarbekirspor and Ağrıspor remain among the most heavily scrutinized, with a combined 35 players referred and multiple executives detained.
Karacabey Belediye, Afjet Afyonspor and other 3. Lig sides face more than 100 referrals tied to offshore networks.
Even Süper Lig giants have not escaped: Galatasaray and Trabzonspor have players suspended, while Fenerbahçe’s midfield structure has now been thrown into disarray with Yandaş’s detention.
The instability echoes across the top tier.
Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, now directly entangled, risk sponsorship losses estimated at 20 million ($23.3 million).
Trabzonspor is under administrative review, and Eyüpspor remains the scandal’s most prominent early casualty.
Meanwhile, prosecutors say digital forensics show “systematic betting on self-matches,” with more than 1,000 transactions routed through unregulated apps.
Illegal betting, the TFF estimates, siphoned as much as 50 million euros from Turkish football in 2025 alone.
Public trust is eroding at speed: Nielsen data shows viewership down 15% across the season.
As suspects continue giving statements at Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse, Hacıosmanoğlu says the federation’s integrity report – due mid-December – may recommend lifetime bans, club fines and sweeping structural reforms.
UEFA has offered forensic support, and the Turkish government has allocated 10 million euros for new anti-corruption programs. All weekend fixtures in affected leagues have been paused for integrity checks.
Galatasaray will convene its regular February meeting of the board on Wednesday, Feb. 11, as the club’s senior oversight body gathers to examine finances, sporting performance and governance matters at a key stage of the season.
The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. local time at the Özhan Canaydın Conference Hall inside the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park.
It is part of the club’s routine monthly governance process and brings together former presidents, long-serving members and senior figures who serve in an advisory and supervisory role between the general assembly and the board of directors.
Financial review
The main agenda item is the presentation and discussion of Galatasaray’s audited financial statements covering the first six months of the 2025-26 season, from June 1 to Nov. 30, 2025.
Prepared in line with Turkish Financial Reporting Standards and adjusted for inflation accounting, the reports reflect the consolidated performance of Galatasaray Sportif Sınai ve Ticari Yatırımlar A.Ş. (Galatasaray Sports, Industrial and Commercial Investments Inc.), the publicly listed company overseeing professional football operations.
According to recent disclosures on the Public Disclosure Platform, consolidated revenue for the period reached approximately TL 9.7 billion ($222.3 million), an increase of around 60 percent compared to the same period last season.
The group reported a net profit attributable to the parent company of roughly TL 1.4 billion, while shareholders’ equity stood near TL 15.35 billion.
Despite the strong headline figures, underlying pressures remain.
Analysts note that core football operations continue to face structural challenges, while total liabilities and borrowings remain high, around TL 11 billion, reflecting transfer spending, wage commitments and broader economic conditions in Türkiye.
Sporting and administrative activity report
Club executives will also present a comprehensive activity report covering both administrative and sporting developments during the period.
The presentation will include updates on performances in the Süper Lig, Turkish Cup and UEFA competitions, progress within the youth academy, results across other branches such as basketball and volleyball, as well as infrastructure projects and commercial initiatives.
Following these presentations, the club’s Audit Board will deliver its findings and opinions on the financial statements and activity reports, providing independent oversight and ensuring compliance with regulations and club statutes.
Board presidency election on the horizon
An additional and closely watched agenda item concerns the upcoming board presidency election, scheduled for March 14, 2026.
Potential candidates will be given the opportunity to address the assembly and outline their views and priorities ahead of the vote.
The role of board president is regarded as one of the most prestigious positions within Galatasaray, carrying significant influence in club oversight, mediation and the protection of institutional tradition.
Monthly meetings of the board are a cornerstone of governance at Galatasaray and other major Turkish clubs, promoting transparency, accountability and member participation.
The timing of this session is particularly significant as the club balances midseason sporting pressure with financial scrutiny linked to its publicly listed status.
Serena Williams took another step toward a possible return to professional tennis on Monday, with the sport’s drug-testing body listing her as eligible to compete again starting Feb. 22.
The move comes six months after the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion first registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
Williams, now 44, appeared on the ITIA’s reinstatement page, a development first reported by Bounces.
What remains unclear is if, when or where Williams might step back onto the court and whether this milestone will lead to an actual comeback.
When it was revealed last year that Williams had signed up with the ITIA to return to the drug-testing pool, she wrote on social media: “OMG y’all, I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Her agent did not immediately return a request for comment Monday. Neither did a spokesperson for the WTA Tour.
Last year, when word emerged that Williams had made an initial move required for a return, U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said: “If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans, we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport.”
Williams, one of the greats of the game, has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, she said she did not want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.
Athletes returning to testing must provide information on their whereabouts, including details on their location when they are not at an official event and times when they are available to give samples. Someone who retires while on the list and later returns must be available for testing for six months before being allowed to compete again.
Williams’ older sister, Venus, returned to competition last July at age 45 after nearly 1.5 years away from the tour. She had never announced her retirement. At the U.S. Open, Venus became the oldest player to compete in singles at the American Grand Slam tournament since 1981.
When Venus, a seven-time major singles champion, came back at the DC Open, she spoke about wishing Serena would join her on tour again. The sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
“I keep saying to my team, the only thing that would make this better is if she was here. We always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said at the time when asked about a social media video showing Serena swinging a racket. “But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün said sharing good news with Türkiye means as much to him as the honor itself after earning his second straight NBA All-Star selection.
Speaking at the Rockets’ training facility, the 23-year-old described the back-to-back nod as a moment of pride not only for his career but for his country, especially during a difficult period back home.
“Recently, there have been earthquakes in Türkiye and very bad things have happened,” Şengün said. “That’s why I’m always happy to bring good news.”
Şengün emphasized the responsibility he feels representing Türkiye on the NBA’s biggest stage, calling it a source of motivation throughout the season. “I am proud to carry the name of Türkiye on my shoulders,” he said. “That’s great, my friend.”
Şengün was officially added to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 8 as an injury replacement for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with Commissioner Adam Silver naming him to Team World.
The selection makes Şengün the first Turkish player to earn consecutive All-Star appearances.
Mehmet Okur remains the only other Turkish player to be named an NBA All-Star, earning a single selection in 2007.
The Rockets’ center has backed up the honor with one of the most complete seasons of his young career.
Through 44 games, all starts, Şengün is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 49.6% from the field.
His assist average is a career high and highlights his evolution into one of the league’s most versatile playmaking big men.
This season, he is one of only a handful of players averaging at least 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Şengün’s production has helped keep Houston competitive in the Western Conference and further cemented his status as a cornerstone of the franchise.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend will be held Feb. 13 to Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California, with the 75th All-Star Game played Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
This year’s event will debut a new USA vs. World format, featuring a round-robin tournament among three teams playing four 12-minute games. The All-Star Game will tip off at 5:00 p.m. ET and air on NBC and Peacock.
Rıza Kayaalp marked his long-awaited return to competition in emphatic fashion, capturing the Greco-Roman 130 kg. gold medal at the Zagreb Open and reminding the wrestling world why his name still carries weight at the very top of the sport.
The tournament in Croatia’s capital, part of United World Wrestling’s first Ranking Series event of 2026, was Kayaalp’s first official appearance in 610 days.
The 36-year-old Turkish heavyweight had not competed since June 2024, yet he looked untouched by the layoff, dominating every bout on his way to the title.
Kayaalp opened his campaign by overwhelming American Aden Ikaika Hammar Attao in the elimination round, winning 9-0 by technical superiority.
He followed with another lopsided victory in the quarterfinals, again posting a 9-0 technical fall against Georgia’s Rati Talikishvili.
The semifinals brought a sterner test, but Kayaalp remained in full control, shutting out Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Syrlybay 4-0 with disciplined defense and sharp work from par terre.
In Sunday’s final, he faced American Cohlton Michael Schultz and delivered a composed, authoritative performance, pulling away for a 7-1 victory to secure the gold medal.
Across four matches, Kayaalp conceded just one point.
The Zagreb Open also marked Kayaalp’s return following a doping case that sidelined him for much of 2024 and 2025. An out-of-competition test in May 2024 detected trimetazidine, a prohibited substance under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Kayaalp maintained the substance came from the prescribed medication Vastarel, which he used to treat severe tinnitus and related symptoms.
While an initial ruling imposed a four-year ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced the sanction to 18 months, allowing him to resume competition on Jan. 1, 2026.
Kayaalp’s comeback adds another chapter to one of Greco-Roman wrestling’s most decorated careers.
He owns three Olympic medals, five world titles and a record 12 European championships, a mark he currently shares with Russian legend Aleksandr Karelin.
Gold at the 2026 European Wrestling Championships in April would make Kayaalp the most successful European champion in history.
Türkiye enjoyed a strong showing overall in Zagreb, finishing the event with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Alongside Kayaalp, Yüksel Sarıçiçek and Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu claimed gold, while Nesrin Baş took silver and Ömer Halis Recep earned bronze.
Turkish short-track speed skater Furkan Akar says he feels prepared, confident, and hungry for a medal as he gets set to compete at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, aiming to turn experience into a podium finish.
Speaking from the Olympic Village in Milan, Akar described a smooth build-up to his second Games and said years of racing at the highest level have sharpened both his mindset and his belief.
“I gained experience with a sixth place and a bronze medal, then raced many more international events,” Akar said. “This is my second Olympics. I feel very ready and very motivated. I believe I can finish on the podium.”
Akar arrives in Italy with a growing resume. He finished sixth in the 1000 meters at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the best Olympic result ever for Türkiye in short track speed skating.
A year later, he claimed bronze at the 2023 European Championships in Gdansk, delivering Türkiye’s first European medal in the discipline.
Those milestones, he said, helped shape his confidence heading into Milan.
The atmosphere has already left a mark. Akar was one of the Turkish flag bearers at the opening ceremony, an experience he described as overwhelming and unforgettable.
“Carrying the Turkish flag in front of 80,000 people was incredibly exciting,” he said. “The energy here is completely different from Beijing. It was intense, emotional, and special. We are still training twice a day, fitness and ice sessions, right up to the 16th. The excitement keeps building.”
On the ice, Akar knows where the biggest challenge lies. He pointed to Canadian skaters as the strongest contenders in the men’s 500 meters but made it clear he is not intimidated.
“I think the Canadians are strong in the 500,” he said. “Other than that, I trust myself. I will give more than my best and represent my country in the strongest way possible.”
The Olympic environment, he added, carries a unique weight.
“Racing against the best athletes in the world is a very different feeling,” Akar said. “I worked hard for this, sacrificed a lot, and now I am seeing the reward. I want to thank everyone who supported me, from the federation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. I am getting so many messages from across Türkiye, and that support means everything.”
Türkiye will be represented by two skaters in short track at Milano-Cortina for the first time. Denis Örs will join Akar in competition, with Örs also saying he feels strong and focused ahead of the races.
Akar and Örs are scheduled to compete in the men’s 500-meter heats on Monday, Feb. 16, at 1:17 p.m. local time. The event is known for its explosive pace, tight margins, and unpredictability, often producing dramatic finishes.
Cristiano Ronaldo still waits for his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Nassr hope their longest-running drought ends with his return to the pitch this week in continental competition.
The Riyadh club faces Arkadag of Turkmenistan on Wednesday in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two round of 16, a two-match tie that offers Al-Nassr a clear path toward silverware.
The return leg will be played in Saudi Arabia next week, with a quarterfinal place at stake.
Ronaldo, now 41, has missed Al-Nassr’s last two Saudi Pro League matches amid reports of frustration over the club’s transfer strategy and funding structure.
Those concerns surfaced after rivals Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema during the January window, reigniting debate over how Saudi football’s biggest clubs are backed despite all four being majority owned by the Public Investment Fund.
The Saudi Pro League moved quickly to address the issue, stressing that clubs operate independently within a shared framework.
In a statement, the league said Ronaldo has played an important role in Al-Nassr’s growth but emphasized that no player holds influence beyond their own club.
Transfer funding, the league added, comes from a centralized acquisition pool and individual club resources, not personal preference.
Despite the noise, Al-Nassr have shown resilience without their marquee name.
They beat defending league champions Al-Ittihad 2-0 on Friday, their second straight win without Ronaldo, easing immediate pressure ahead of the Arkadag trip.
Al-Nassr’s continental campaign unfolds as Saudi clubs continue to dominate the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite.
Al-Hilal sit comfortably atop the West Zone with six wins from six matches, allowing coach Simone Inzaghi room to rotate his squad.
Al-Ahli have also secured progression after claiming their first continental title earlier this year.
Al-Ittihad remain the only Saudi side yet to confirm a place in the knockout stage.
Sixth in the standings with two matches left, they can secure advancement by defeating Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Tuesday, even after losing Benzema to Al-Hilal.
Elsewhere in Asia, Vissel Kobe are the only East Zone team already through, while Japan could send three clubs into the round of 16 if Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Machida Zelvia deliver wins this week.
Chinese teams face mounting pressure, with Shanghai Port rooted to the bottom and Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenhua clinging to qualification hopes.
For Al-Nassr, however, the focus is narrower and more urgent. Ronaldo has elevated the club’s profile since arriving in January 2023, but a major trophy remains missing from his Saudi chapter.
‘President Erdoğan’s visit shows strength of Türkiye-Saudi ties’
BREAKING NEWS I Akın Gürlek was appointed to the Ministry of Justice! He shed light on the corruption case of 100 years
China’s inflation eases in January ahead of holiday spending push
‘President Erdoğan’s visit shows strength of Türkiye-Saudi ties’
BREAKING NEWS I Akın Gürlek was appointed to the Ministry of Justice! He shed light on the corruption case of 100 years
China’s inflation eases in January ahead of holiday spending push
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoParliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee is going to the USA! Fuat Oktay: The constructive attitude of the congress is of critical importance in Türkiye-US relations
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoMinister of Justice Tunç: “The regulation regarding children involved in crime will come to the parliament after the commission works are completed.”
-
Economy2 days agoFacing US tariffs, South Africa steps toward trade deal with China
-
Sports3 days agoTurkish center Alperen Şengün named in 2026 NBA All-Star
-
Politics3 days agoTürkiye captures 2 suspected of spying for Mossad in Istanbul
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoThe person who insulted Mihalgazi Mayor Zeynep Akgün was detained
-
Sports2 days agoAkar carries Türkiye’s hopes into Olympic short track spotlight
-
Politics2 days agoArrest, outrage after far-right man targets Turkish mayor’s dress