Sports
Turkish sport rides glorious 2025 despite TFF betting scandal dent
From historic individual breakthroughs to title-winning runs at home and abroad and from global milestones to scandals that shook the foundations of football, Turkish sport packed 2025 with defining moments that revealed both its rising power and its deepest vulnerabilities.
The year unfolded as a study in contrast. Athletes delivered world titles, Olympic-level performances and long-awaited breakthroughs, while administrators and federations grappled with credibility crises that spilled far beyond the field of play, culminating in a reckoning for Turkish football’s governance.
January set the tone with milestones and controversy arriving side by side.
NBA center Alperen Şengün became only the second Turkish player after Mehmet Okur to be selected for an NBA All-Star Game, earning coaches’ votes after emerging as the cornerstone of the Houston Rockets with averages of 19.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and five assists.
His selection marked a coming-of-age moment for Turkish basketball on the global stage.
Football, however, entered turbulent waters early.
Amid mounting criticism over officiating standards and perceived inconsistency, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced it would deploy foreign VAR referees for the Süper Lig’s second half, a temporary fix that signaled eroding trust in domestic systems and foreshadowed deeper problems to come.
February delivered momentum across disciplines, particularly for para sports.
Archer Öznur Cüre Girdi and coach Yusuf Göktuğ Ergin received World Archery honors, while the Women’s National Goalball Team and para swimmer Umut Ünlü were named Europe’s best by the European Paralympic Committee.
Domestic football drama escalated when Adana Demirspor walked off the pitch during a match at Galatasaray, igniting disciplinary proceedings and fierce debate over governance, fairness and accountability.
The incident intensified scrutiny of the federation at a time when confidence in match integrity was already fragile.
Basketball provided balance. The women’s national team completed EuroBasket qualifiers unbeaten and Fenerbahçe Beko lifted the Turkish Cup with a commanding victory over Beşiktaş.
March became a medal rush.
At the European Airgun Championships, Türkiye topped the table with eight medals, led by Şevval Ilayda Tarhan, who became the first Turkish woman to win five medals at a single European event.
Turkish women wrestlers claimed three golds at the U-23 European Championships, while boxer Busenaz Sürmeneli captured another world title as Türkiye finished the Women’s World Boxing Championships with six medals.
Administrative change followed, with Ahmet Gülüm elected president of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, signaling renewal at a time when governance would soon dominate headlines elsewhere.
April belonged to club dominance.
Ziraat Bankkart completed a rare double by winning both the Efeler Ligi and the CEV Cup.
VakıfBank reclaimed the Sultanlar Ligi crown and Fenerbahçe Opet swept the Women’s Basketball League playoffs.
Internationally, Greco-Roman wrestler Kerem Kamal and a trio of Turkish weightlifters delivered European golds, reinforcing Türkiye’s strength in Olympic disciplines.
May brought silverware on every front.
Fenerbahçe Beko captured the EuroLeague title with a final victory over Monaco, while Galatasaray completed a domestic double by lifting both the Süper Lig and Turkish Cup.
Individual brilliance followed, with gymnast Adem Asil winning two European golds and teenage weightlifter Fatmagül Çevik claiming junior world gold.
June closed the first half with strong finishes.
The National Women’s Basketball Team secured its place in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, while Alves Kablo underlined Türkiye’s dominance in amputee football by winning the Champions League final in emphatic fashion.
Summer of extremes
The summer months amplified the contrasts.
June opened with Alves Kablo’s 6-1 demolition of Wisla Krakow in the Amputee Football Champions League final.
The men’s national football team split results on its U.S. tour, while Fenerbahçe confirmed Acun Ilıcalı’s departure from the board.
In basketball, the women’s national team finished seventh at EuroBasket, earning a World Cup qualifying spot after a demanding campaign.
Tradition took center stage when Cutha, ridden by Ahmet Çelik, won the 99th Gazi Race.
July delivered history.
Zeynep Sönmez became the first Turkish player in 75 years to reach the third round of a Grand Slam singles draw, rewriting national tennis history at Wimbledon.
Swimmer Kuzey Tunçelli claimed his third straight European junior 1500m freestyle title, while Orhan Okulu secured his third Kırkpınar oil wrestling crown.
Off the pitch, Galatasaray shattered transfer records by signing Victor Osimhen from Napoli for 75 million euros ($88 million), the most expensive move in Turkish football history, a deal that symbolized ambition even as institutional confidence wavered.
August turned volatile.
Jose Mourinho departed Fenerbahçe after one season, Beşiktaş welcomed back Sergen Yalçın and European qualifiers delivered both dramatic comebacks and painful exits.
The month was also marked by loss, with legendary broadcaster Ümit Aktan dying at 76.
Autumn reckoning
September belonged to national teams.
The men’s basketball team surged to EuroBasket silver, while the women’s volleyball team reached a World Championship final for the first time, claiming historic silver after a narrow loss to Italy.
Para swimmer Defne Kurt stunned the world with five gold medals at the World Para Swimming Championships and teenage chess player Ediz Gürel shocked reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
October became the year’s most defining month.
Motorcycle star Toprak Razgatlıoğlu clinched his third World Superbike title, confirming his status as one of Türkiye’s greatest-ever athletes.
Fenerbahçe Medicana won the Women’s Champions Cup, becoming the competition’s most successful club.
Scandalous TFF
Yet football faced its deepest crisis. The TFF disclosed that 371 of 571 referees assigned to professional leagues held betting accounts, with 152 found to be actively wagering.
The revelation by the TFF President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu triggered mass disciplinary action, led to suspensions across lower divisions and shattered public trust.
The fallout widened when more than 1,000 players were referred to disciplinary boards, forcing clubs, fans and sponsors to confront the scale of the integrity breach.
What began months earlier as officiating disputes and VAR controversies had now evolved into a full-blown institutional scandal, exposing systemic failures in oversight and enforcement.
November offered rare on-field relief amid the turbulence.
The men’s national football team moved a step closer to ending a 24-year World Cup absence by defeating Bulgaria 2-0 in Bursa, clinching at least second place in Group E and guaranteeing a spot in UEFA’s 2026 World Cup playoffs.
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s first-half penalty set the tone before a late own goal sealed a controlled performance in front of more than 42,000 fans.
The victory lifted Türkiye to 12 points from five matches and secured their place in the European playoff system, where Montella’s side entered as a top-seeded team, positioned for a home semifinal in March 2026.
While direct qualification remained unlikely due to goal difference, the result restored belief at a moment when confidence in Turkish football had been badly shaken off the pitch.
Narcotics shocker
The year almost closed with another shock.
Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran came under intensified legal scrutiny after prosecutors confirmed a hair sample tested positive for cocaine during an ongoing narcotics investigation.
While blood, urine and nail samples were negative, the forensic findings escalated pressure on one of Turkish sport’s most powerful figures despite him dismissing the allegations as a smear campaign.
Saran was released under judicial supervision, with the investigation ongoing and no final ruling announced.
However, December was not all doom and gloom, with flashes of promise and pride patching the dents.
Fourteen-year-old chess prodigy Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş announced himself on the world stage by finishing a remarkable 15th at the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha, producing a performance rating of 2728 and earning rare praise from Magnus Carlsen, who called him “the best 14-year-old the world has ever seen.”
Strength athlete Burak Yazgı added another global milestone by reclaiming the Guinness World Record for the heaviest single-repetition Turkish Get-Up, lifting 116.8 kilograms to restore a title he has now held twice and underline Türkiye’s growing presence beyond traditional sporting arenas.
On a battered five-a-side field carved out of rubble and shattered buildings, Jabalia Youth faced Al-Sadaqa in the Gaza Strip’s first organized soccer tournament in more than two years.
The game finished in a draw, as did the following match between Beit Hanoun and Al-Shujaiya.
The scorelines mattered little. Fans pressed against the chain-link fence at Palestine Pitch in the devastated Tal al-Hawa district of Gaza City, cheering every touch and rattling the metal in rhythm.
Boys scrambled up a cracked concrete wall for a better view, while others peered through gaps in the ruins. A lone drumbeat echoed across the wreckage, carrying the sound of soccer back into a city that has missed it.
Youssef Jendiya, 21, a Jabalia Youth player from an area of Gaza largely depopulated and bulldozed by Israeli forces, described his feelings at being back on the pitch.
“Confused. Happy, sad, joyful, happy.”
“People search for water in the morning, food, bread. Life is a little difficult. But there is a little left of the day when you can come and play soccer and express some of the joy inside you,” he said.
“You come to the stadium missing many of your teammates, killed, injured or those who traveled for treatment. So the joy is incomplete.”
Four months after a cease-fire ended major fighting in Gaza, there has been almost no reconstruction.
Israeli forces have ordered residents out of nearly two-thirds of the strip, crowding more than 2 million people into a sliver along the coast, most in makeshift tents or damaged buildings.
The former site of Gaza City’s 9,000-seat Yarmouk Stadium, which Israeli forces leveled during the war and used as a detention center, now houses displaced families in white tents clustered on what was once the pitch.
For this week’s tournament, the Football Association cleared rubble from a collapsed wall along a half-sized field, installed a fence and swept debris off the old artificial turf.
By taking part, the teams were “delivering a message,” said Amjad Abu Awda, 31, a Beit Hanoun player.
“That no matter what happened in terms of destruction and war, we continue playing and living. Life must continue.”
Inter Miami’s bold bet on Lionel Messi keeps rewriting the balance sheet.
In December, the Argentine star powered the club to its first MLS Cup. Now, with the 2026 season less than two weeks away, he has lifted them to another milestone, this time off the pitch.
The Herons are Major League Soccer’s most valuable franchise.
Sportico reported Tuesday that Miami is valued at $1.45 billion, a 22% increase from last year and $50 million more than Los Angeles FC. It marks the first time in the five years of Sportico’s MLS valuations that LAFC have not ranked No. 1.
Though second, LAFC still posted a 9% year over year increase to $1.4 billion. The Black and Gold employ Son Heung-min, one of the league’s most popular international stars. Messi and Son are the two highest-paid players in MLS.
While that is good news for Miami and Los Angeles, the leaguewide economics may raise some concern. The bottom 12 teams in valuation saw their values rise by an average of just 2% from 2025. Three clubs, the San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps and CF Montreal, declined in value, according to the report.
The Whitecaps reached the MLS Cup final last year behind German veteran Thomas Müller.
Sportico valued all clubs, including real estate and football-related businesses owned by club owners such as NWSL franchises, at a combined $23 billion.
San Diego FC, the league’s newest club entering its second season, is valued at $765 million, ranking 10th in MLS.
The MLS season kicks off Feb. 21, highlighted by Miami’s visit to LAFC. The match was moved to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to accommodate increased demand.
Barcelona head to Madrid on Thursday night with silverware on their mind and history on their side.
The defending Copa del Rey champions face Atletico Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the first leg of a heavyweight semifinal, a clash that once again throws two of Spain’s fiercest rivals into a high-stakes knockout duel.
Kickoff is set for 9:00 p.m. CET before nearly 70,000 supporters in one of the country’s most unforgiving arenas.
The return leg will unfold at Spotify Camp Nou between March 3 and 5, with the winner advancing to the final in Seville on April 18-19.
For Atletico, the memory is still fresh.
Last season Barcelona ended their cup run at this exact stage.
A chaotic 4-4 draw in the first leg was followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat in Catalonia, a result that propelled Barcelona toward the trophy and deepened Simeone’s frustration.
The Argentine now has another shot at disrupting Barça’s rhythm.
Atletico’s route to the semifinal was emphatic.
A 5-0 dismantling of Real Betis in the quarterfinals showcased their full range, aggressive pressing, ruthless transitions and clinical finishing.
Yet the same Betis side handed them a 1-0 La Liga defeat days later, underlining the inconsistency that has crept into their campaign.
With just two wins in their last five matches across all competitions and sitting third in La Liga, 13 points behind Barcelona, the domestic cup has taken on added weight.
Simeone’s blueprint is clear. Compact lines, physical midfield battles and sharp counterattacks aimed at exploiting space behind Barcelona’s high defensive line. Set pieces could also prove decisive, an area where Atletico traditionally thrive in knockout football.
Barcelona, however, arrive in commanding form. Hansi Flick’s side have won six consecutive matches in all competitions, scoring at least twice in each outing.
Their 3-0 victory over Mallorca was not only comfortable but controlled, with Robert Lewandowski leading the line efficiently and Lamine Yamal continuing to mature into a decisive presence on the wing. Marc Bernal’s composure in midfield added balance to a team that looks increasingly synchronized.
The numbers reinforce their authority. Barcelona top La Liga with 58 points from 23 matches, owning the division’s most potent attack with 63 goals scored while conceding only 23.
They have already lifted the Spanish Super Cup and progressed to the Champions League last 16, fueling talk of a genuine treble push.
Yet selection questions linger. Raphinha remains out with a thigh injury, depriving Flick of pace and directness on the flank. Frenkie de Jong is doubtful with a groin issue, while Pedri and Gavi continue their recoveries.
Andreas Christensen is sidelined long term. The depth of Barcelona’s squad will be tested in a tie where fine margins often decide outcomes.
Atletico have their own concerns. Pablo Barrios is unavailable with a thigh problem, Johnny Cardoso is out with a muscle injury, and Nicolas Gonzalez is managing physical discomfort.
Marc Pubill could return after illness, offering Simeone an additional option in a defense likely to be under sustained pressure.
Psychology also plays its part. Barcelona have won the last three meetings between the sides, a run that strengthens belief inside Flick’s camp.
Atletico, meanwhile, are motivated by the chance to halt that trend and shift momentum before traveling to Catalonia for the decisive second leg.
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.
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