Appeal Against 448 Betting Files at TFF: 20 Million TL in Fees

A new legal process has begun in the betting investigation conducted by the Turkish Football Federation. The Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) announced its decision on 448 people on October 20, who were found to have placed bets during their time as administrators at Süper Lig and First League clubs over the past five years and were referred to discipline. The board imposed a 45-day suspension from holding office on some individuals, while ruling that no penalty should be imposed on many others.

Following these decisions, the TFF Disciplinary Inspectorate has now taken action. A petition dated October 26, 2026, signed by Attorney Hakan Furkan Tarman on behalf of the Inspectorate, was sent to the Presidency of the Arbitration Board. The petition appealed the PFDK's decisions on the 448 individuals. The Inspectorate argued that the penalties imposed, and the decisions not to impose penalties, are inconsistent with the board's decisions on betting over the past year and the precedents that have developed.

The petition requested that, if the decisions are found appropriate, the files be returned to the PFDK for a new ruling. As a result, a chain of appeals has formed between two boards of the same federation. One of the contested points was cost. Because 448 separate files are being transferred to the Arbitration Board, the total appeal fees were reported to amount to around 20 million TL.

After the written reasoned decisions are served, the Arbitration Board was asked for an additional period of at least three weeks to prepare detailed appeal petitions. All eyes are now on the Arbitration Board. If the application is accepted, it could open the way for a reassessment of the files on which the PFDK ruled in the betting investigation. The Inspectorate's application has raised questions not only financially but also legally and procedurally.