Hundreds of referees officiating in professional leagues have been involved in betting activities, Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu has revealed in what he described as a sign of “corruption” in Turkish football.
Speaking at a press conference on Oct. 27, Hacıosmanoğlu said that an internal investigation, supported by data from state institutions, found that 371 of 571 active referees had betting accounts, while 152 were actively placing bets.
“Among them are seven top-tier referees, 15 assistant referees in the same category, 36 lower-division referees and 64 assistant referees,” he said.
According to the findings, 10 referees placed more than 10,000 bets each, with one individual wagering 18,227 times.
A total of 42 referees were found to have bet on over 1,000 football matches, while some made only a single wager.
Hacıosmanoğlu noted that the disciplinary board would immediately begin proceedings in line with federation regulations. He said the federation had also shared its findings with FIFA and UEFA, signaling that the clean-up process would continue in cooperation with international football bodies.
The president said the federation’s review began by examining not only referees but also the TFF administration itself.
“We started with the referees, including myself and my board members,” he said, calling on clubs to follow the federation’s example.
“Just as we are cleaning our own doorstep, club presidents should start with themselves, their boards and their players and share the results transparently with the public,” he said. “If not, we will continue working with the relevant state bodies and release our findings regardless.”
While sports betting is legal in Türkiye under only one state-run system, referees, players and officials are prohibited from betting on any matches. Turkish football has previously faced allegations of match-fixing and illegal betting rings, particularly in lower leagues.
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
February 01, 2019
Arrest warrants out for 394 in largest online illegal betting raid in modern Turkey's history
Arrest warrants were issued for 394 people Friday in mass simultaneous operations carried out by Turkish police across the country against online betting and gambling sites operating illegally.
The Cybercrime Division Branch of the Istanbul Security Directorate launched the raids in 40 provinces to capture 394 suspects, 207 of which were in Istanbul, for violating the law on online gambling and gaming regulations. Some 5,000 police officers are taking part in the raids.
So far, cybercrime units have seized 42 million Turkish liras in cash, in addition to $94,000 and 133,000 euros. Police have said the sites generated somewhere around TL 3.5 billion. The operations against gambling rings and illegal betting outfits are still continuing.
Investigations found that 72 front companies were established in the cosmetics, logistics and food sectors to hide their betting activities relating to football matches and other sports events. As part of the probes, financial analyses were conducted on 849 people and 4,345 bank accounts affiliated with the suspects and companies. The total money traffic was found out to be TL 2.145 billion, $12.120 million, 9.366 million euros, 7 million Russian rubles and TL 1.8 million worth of gold, in addition to smaller amounts of British pounds, Swiss francs and Canadian dollars.
Police units also informed local authorities that administrative fines ranging from TL 8,500 to TL 35,000 will be issued for 455 gamblers.
Turkey struggles to crack down on illegal betting as a country where football is the nation's favorite sport and a way of earning income for gambling addicts. The country implemented a law last year to facilitate the seizure of revenues for illegal betting organizers, but the gangs managed to circumvent the strict monitoring of bank accounts. Authorities say they stepped up cooperation with banks to detect accounts used by gangs and betting.
The Cybercrime Division Branch of the Istanbul Security Directorate launched the raids in 40 provinces to capture 394 suspects, 207 of which were in Istanbul, for violating the law on online gambling and gaming regulations. Some 5,000 police officers are taking part in the raids.
So far, cybercrime units have seized 42 million Turkish liras in cash, in addition to $94,000 and 133,000 euros. Police have said the sites generated somewhere around TL 3.5 billion. The operations against gambling rings and illegal betting outfits are still continuing.
Investigations found that 72 front companies were established in the cosmetics, logistics and food sectors to hide their betting activities relating to football matches and other sports events. As part of the probes, financial analyses were conducted on 849 people and 4,345 bank accounts affiliated with the suspects and companies. The total money traffic was found out to be TL 2.145 billion, $12.120 million, 9.366 million euros, 7 million Russian rubles and TL 1.8 million worth of gold, in addition to smaller amounts of British pounds, Swiss francs and Canadian dollars.
Police units also informed local authorities that administrative fines ranging from TL 8,500 to TL 35,000 will be issued for 455 gamblers.
Turkey struggles to crack down on illegal betting as a country where football is the nation's favorite sport and a way of earning income for gambling addicts. The country implemented a law last year to facilitate the seizure of revenues for illegal betting organizers, but the gangs managed to circumvent the strict monitoring of bank accounts. Authorities say they stepped up cooperation with banks to detect accounts used by gangs and betting.
November 03, 2017
GVC drops Turkey operations amid merger rumor with Lads Coral
UK-listed online gambling operator GVC Holdings has disposed of its Turkish-facing business, fueling speculations that it will once again attempt to acquire UK rival Ladbrokes Coral Group.
In a regulatory filing, GVC announced that it sold Headlong Limited to Ropso Malta Ltd., a company backed by investors who run the operation’s IT, for €150 million ($174.9 million).
Headlong accounts for 9 percent of GVC’s net gaming revenues. The Turkish-facing company and its associated business had gross assets of €21 million ($24.47 million) as of December 31, 2016 while its estimated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization totalled €35 million ($40.77 million).
GVC drops Turkey operations amid merger rumor with Lads CoralBoth GVC and Ropso Malta agreed that the payment will be payable on a monthly basis and in a span of five years. They also agreed that transitional service arrangements will take place for no longer than six months following the completion.
With the disposal of Headlong, GVC’s revenue from “grey” markets will fall to around 25 percent.
“The decision to sell Headlong and associated businesses has been taken against a backdrop where, in an increasingly maturing and regulating online gaming world, the Board has concluded it is now appropriate for GVC to further increase its focus on regulated markets,” GVC said in a statement. “In addition, the Board believes that the Disposal will increase the attractiveness of the Group to investors and potential consolidation partners.”
The sale of Headlong, however, has revived rumors that GVC is attempting to acquire Ladbrokes for the third time since last year, according to The Evening Standard.
One of the contentious issues that both GVC and Ladbrokes are reportedly trying to iron out is the former’s businesses in unregulated markets like Turkey. Though profitable, unregulated markets are unstable and subject to sudden clampdowns.
Ladbrokes is basically telling GVC that if the company wants a marriage, then the former has to say bye-bye to unregulated markets.
In a regulatory filing, GVC announced that it sold Headlong Limited to Ropso Malta Ltd., a company backed by investors who run the operation’s IT, for €150 million ($174.9 million).
Headlong accounts for 9 percent of GVC’s net gaming revenues. The Turkish-facing company and its associated business had gross assets of €21 million ($24.47 million) as of December 31, 2016 while its estimated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization totalled €35 million ($40.77 million).
GVC drops Turkey operations amid merger rumor with Lads CoralBoth GVC and Ropso Malta agreed that the payment will be payable on a monthly basis and in a span of five years. They also agreed that transitional service arrangements will take place for no longer than six months following the completion.
With the disposal of Headlong, GVC’s revenue from “grey” markets will fall to around 25 percent.
“The decision to sell Headlong and associated businesses has been taken against a backdrop where, in an increasingly maturing and regulating online gaming world, the Board has concluded it is now appropriate for GVC to further increase its focus on regulated markets,” GVC said in a statement. “In addition, the Board believes that the Disposal will increase the attractiveness of the Group to investors and potential consolidation partners.”
The sale of Headlong, however, has revived rumors that GVC is attempting to acquire Ladbrokes for the third time since last year, according to The Evening Standard.
One of the contentious issues that both GVC and Ladbrokes are reportedly trying to iron out is the former’s businesses in unregulated markets like Turkey. Though profitable, unregulated markets are unstable and subject to sudden clampdowns.
Ladbrokes is basically telling GVC that if the company wants a marriage, then the former has to say bye-bye to unregulated markets.
March 01, 2016
Former Bwin execs face bribery charges
Several reports in Europe are naming both bwin founders Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger in potential forthcoming charges by prosecutors in Austria for bribery regarding a 2007 application for a sports betting license in Turkey.
According to reports both men while working for bwin are guilty of paying a €2.25 million incentive in order to bribe Turkish officials.
Bodner and Teufelberger are set to face charges imposed by Austrian law courts with regards to bribery, corruption, money laundering and breach of trust attached to national business standards.
TREND an Austrian news source is saying that charges relate to Bwin’s attempts to gain a Turkish sports betting license in 2007. The company is reported to have hired several lobbyist to help with its application.
The license in question was granted at the time but then revoked by the Turkish government and the €2.25 million payment was written off by Bwin.
Legal representatives of Bodner and Teufelberger have moved to dismiss the charges, stating that the allegations were “without merit”. Both of the execs were “fully confident” that the courts would side with them “in due course.”
According to reports both men while working for bwin are guilty of paying a €2.25 million incentive in order to bribe Turkish officials.
Bodner and Teufelberger are set to face charges imposed by Austrian law courts with regards to bribery, corruption, money laundering and breach of trust attached to national business standards.
TREND an Austrian news source is saying that charges relate to Bwin’s attempts to gain a Turkish sports betting license in 2007. The company is reported to have hired several lobbyist to help with its application.
The license in question was granted at the time but then revoked by the Turkish government and the €2.25 million payment was written off by Bwin.
Legal representatives of Bodner and Teufelberger have moved to dismiss the charges, stating that the allegations were “without merit”. Both of the execs were “fully confident” that the courts would side with them “in due course.”
October 07, 2015
Two Singaporeans charged for match fixing in Turkey
Two Singaporeans have been charged with corruption for involvement in match-fixing in Turkey in 2013, court documents showed Wednesday.
In a fresh case that highlights the global reach of football-rigging syndicates in the city-state, Rajendar Prasad Rai, 42, and Shree Manish Kalra, 22, each face three charges at a district court.
Two were lodged on Monday and the other in late September.
One accuses Rai of “instigating” Kalra to give 25,000 euros (US$28,185) to a Macedonian national, Marjan Stojanchevski, and two countrymen to fix the outcome of a match between SC Charleroi of Belgium and VVV Venlo of Holland on January 11, 2013 in Antalya, Turkey.
Another charge says Rai asked Kalra to give 15,000 euros to the same Macedonians to fix a game between Steaua Bucuresti and Dynamo Moscow on February 3, 2013 in Antalya.
The third charge alleges Rai asked Kalra to give 27,000 euros to the same people to fix a match between Sturm Graz and Steaua Bucuresti on February 1, 2013 in Antalya.
Kalra allegedly handed the money to the Macedonians in all three instances.
The charge sheets did not give details of the Macedonians, but a Marjan Stojanchevski is described as a linesman or referee on several football sites.
Each charge is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a maximum fine of Sg$100,000 (US$70,315) or both.
Rai is on bail of Sg$300,000. In a separate case he and another Singaporean are accused of trying to bribe three or four players of a local football team, Singapore Recreation Club, in the local S. League in July 2014.
Singapore has a long history of match-fixing scandals, a stain on its reputation as one of Asia’s least corrupt countries for business and government.
Last month a Singaporean man described by state prosecutors as “a criminal match-fixer extraordinaire” was sentenced to four years in jail for conspiring to rig a match in the recent Southeast Asian Games.
Rajendran R. Kurusamy, 55, pleaded guilty to bribing the manager and players of East Timor’s under-23 football team to lose a preliminary match against Malaysia scheduled for May 30 in Singapore, which hosted the games.
In 2013 police arrested Dan Tan, the notorious alleged mastermind of a global match-fixing ring linked to hundreds of rigged football games worldwide.
He is still being held under a law, usually applied to members of criminal gangs, which allows for detention without trial.
Singaporean businessman Eric Ding is serving a five-year jail sentence for providing prostitutes to Lebanese football referees to try to influence international matches in April 2013.
Experts have said that easy international transport, a passport accepted around the world and fluency in English and Mandarin have helped Singaporean fixers spread their influence – with the support of external investors, most believed to be from China.
In a fresh case that highlights the global reach of football-rigging syndicates in the city-state, Rajendar Prasad Rai, 42, and Shree Manish Kalra, 22, each face three charges at a district court.
Two were lodged on Monday and the other in late September.
One accuses Rai of “instigating” Kalra to give 25,000 euros (US$28,185) to a Macedonian national, Marjan Stojanchevski, and two countrymen to fix the outcome of a match between SC Charleroi of Belgium and VVV Venlo of Holland on January 11, 2013 in Antalya, Turkey.
Another charge says Rai asked Kalra to give 15,000 euros to the same Macedonians to fix a game between Steaua Bucuresti and Dynamo Moscow on February 3, 2013 in Antalya.
The third charge alleges Rai asked Kalra to give 27,000 euros to the same people to fix a match between Sturm Graz and Steaua Bucuresti on February 1, 2013 in Antalya.
Kalra allegedly handed the money to the Macedonians in all three instances.
The charge sheets did not give details of the Macedonians, but a Marjan Stojanchevski is described as a linesman or referee on several football sites.
Each charge is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a maximum fine of Sg$100,000 (US$70,315) or both.
Rai is on bail of Sg$300,000. In a separate case he and another Singaporean are accused of trying to bribe three or four players of a local football team, Singapore Recreation Club, in the local S. League in July 2014.
Singapore has a long history of match-fixing scandals, a stain on its reputation as one of Asia’s least corrupt countries for business and government.
Last month a Singaporean man described by state prosecutors as “a criminal match-fixer extraordinaire” was sentenced to four years in jail for conspiring to rig a match in the recent Southeast Asian Games.
Rajendran R. Kurusamy, 55, pleaded guilty to bribing the manager and players of East Timor’s under-23 football team to lose a preliminary match against Malaysia scheduled for May 30 in Singapore, which hosted the games.
In 2013 police arrested Dan Tan, the notorious alleged mastermind of a global match-fixing ring linked to hundreds of rigged football games worldwide.
He is still being held under a law, usually applied to members of criminal gangs, which allows for detention without trial.
Singaporean businessman Eric Ding is serving a five-year jail sentence for providing prostitutes to Lebanese football referees to try to influence international matches in April 2013.
Experts have said that easy international transport, a passport accepted around the world and fluency in English and Mandarin have helped Singaporean fixers spread their influence – with the support of external investors, most believed to be from China.
December 17, 2014
Pennsylvania-based imam Fethullah Gülen asked for a $50 million bribe from Fenerbahçe chairman Yıldırım
Chairman of the Galatasaray Football Club, Duygun Yarsuvat has claimed that Pennsylvania-based imam Fethullah Gülen asked for a $50 million bribe from the former chairman of Fenerbahçe Football Club, Aziz Yıldırım, and after he refused, began the match-fixing which led Yıldırım to prison.
"Fethullah [Gülen] asked for $50 million from Aziz Yıldırım. Neither Aziz Yıldırım nor Fenerbahçe paid the money. A well-known process started after all of this. … This process has not ended yet," Galatasaray Chairman DoygunYarsuvat told Turkish daily Milliyet on Wednesday.
In the summer of 2011 a comprehensive investigation was launched into allegations of match fixing and organized crime networks in Turkish soccer circles. More than 60 people, including Fenerbahçe club chairman, Yıldırım, were taken into custody. On July 14, 2011, Hüseyin Gülerce, a senior journalist associated with the Gülen Movement, wrote about the match-fixing arrests in Today's Zaman, the English language version of Zaman daily. In an article titled, "Second breach in Ergenekon's fortress," Gülerce described the match-fixing investigation as part of a concerted attempt to destroy the same people who had been targeted in the Ergenekon investigation. "As they fail to understand that their resistance is futile, they will be eliminated faster," Gülerce predicted.
On July 2, 2012, Turkey's now defunct Specially Authorized Courts convicted and sentenced Yıldırım to six years and three months in prison for match fixing. On June 7, 2014, the newly assigned prosecutor of the match-fixing scandal demanded a retrial for Yıldırım from the 13th High Criminal Court, which is the newly assigned court for the match-fixing scandal. Immediately after his release from jail on July 2, 2013, he spoke to Hürriyet columnist Ertuğrul Özkök and said that the Gülen Movement was responsible for all of these matters.
Furthermore, on January 20, 2014, Yıldırım claimed to The Wall Street Journal that the evidence of the match-fixing case was fake and unstable and that the Gülen Movement was behind it. "The match-fixing case was a political trial with a political verdict. I don't respect the decision of this judiciary," he said. He had been the head of Fenerbahçe since 1998 and won five Turkish league titles.
"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his statement on December 17, said that a parallel structure exists. This parallel structure is run by Gülen and his community. All those prosecutors, judges and police officers were removed from office because they are Gülenists. … So, it means that all those operations in the past, including the one against us, were the work of the Gülen Movement. I cannot be sure now whether the Appeals Court judges [who upheld my sentence] are in the service of the parallel structure or the Republic of Turkey. The justice minister should make a statement to shed light on the situation," Yıldırım said.
On June 7, 2014, the newly assigned prosecutor of the match-fixing scandal demanded a retrial of the case, which was accepted by the court and will lead to all those convicted, including Yıldırım, to have a retrial.
"Fethullah [Gülen] asked for $50 million from Aziz Yıldırım. Neither Aziz Yıldırım nor Fenerbahçe paid the money. A well-known process started after all of this. … This process has not ended yet," Galatasaray Chairman DoygunYarsuvat told Turkish daily Milliyet on Wednesday.
In the summer of 2011 a comprehensive investigation was launched into allegations of match fixing and organized crime networks in Turkish soccer circles. More than 60 people, including Fenerbahçe club chairman, Yıldırım, were taken into custody. On July 14, 2011, Hüseyin Gülerce, a senior journalist associated with the Gülen Movement, wrote about the match-fixing arrests in Today's Zaman, the English language version of Zaman daily. In an article titled, "Second breach in Ergenekon's fortress," Gülerce described the match-fixing investigation as part of a concerted attempt to destroy the same people who had been targeted in the Ergenekon investigation. "As they fail to understand that their resistance is futile, they will be eliminated faster," Gülerce predicted.
On July 2, 2012, Turkey's now defunct Specially Authorized Courts convicted and sentenced Yıldırım to six years and three months in prison for match fixing. On June 7, 2014, the newly assigned prosecutor of the match-fixing scandal demanded a retrial for Yıldırım from the 13th High Criminal Court, which is the newly assigned court for the match-fixing scandal. Immediately after his release from jail on July 2, 2013, he spoke to Hürriyet columnist Ertuğrul Özkök and said that the Gülen Movement was responsible for all of these matters.
Furthermore, on January 20, 2014, Yıldırım claimed to The Wall Street Journal that the evidence of the match-fixing case was fake and unstable and that the Gülen Movement was behind it. "The match-fixing case was a political trial with a political verdict. I don't respect the decision of this judiciary," he said. He had been the head of Fenerbahçe since 1998 and won five Turkish league titles.
"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his statement on December 17, said that a parallel structure exists. This parallel structure is run by Gülen and his community. All those prosecutors, judges and police officers were removed from office because they are Gülenists. … So, it means that all those operations in the past, including the one against us, were the work of the Gülen Movement. I cannot be sure now whether the Appeals Court judges [who upheld my sentence] are in the service of the parallel structure or the Republic of Turkey. The justice minister should make a statement to shed light on the situation," Yıldırım said.
On June 7, 2014, the newly assigned prosecutor of the match-fixing scandal demanded a retrial of the case, which was accepted by the court and will lead to all those convicted, including Yıldırım, to have a retrial.
May 10, 2013
Turkey to fine players who visit online gambling sites
Turkey is proposing new legislation to put teeth into its fight against illegal online gambling, including stiff financial penalties for gamblers who bet with the sites. Turkey has long campaigned against online gambling, passing laws expressly outlawing the activity in 2007. The uncertainty surrounding the market led Sportingbet to sell its Turkish-facing Superbahis operation to GVC Holdings in 2011 and the new proposed measures could take a serious bite out of GVC’s future earnings.
On Wednesday, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet revealed that parliamentarians were intent on targeting not just operators, but affiliates, financial institutions, media companies and even players. Under the draft law’s terms, agents of the online sites who reside in Turkey would face prison sentences of several years. Similar sentences would await those who assist the sites in processing payments, while media companies that carry advertisements for the sites would face sentences of one to three years.
It will be up to the Turkish Banking Regulation and Supervising Agency to ensure that online gambling firms cannot process payments by debit cards or credit cards. The Telecommunication Communications Agency would be responsible for imposing IP-blocking of online sites.
Players, meanwhile, would face fines of between 100k-500k Turkish lira (US $55k to $278k). In a country with a median annual income of less than $6k, this proposal marks a serious escalation of Turkey’s fight against unauthorized sites. Just as Greece’s war against online gambling sites was viewed as a way to boost the value of betting monopoly OPAP, Turkey is planning to privatize its sports betting lottery this summer, and eliminating the lottery’s online competition might help Turkey realize the $10b sale price it’s seeking.
On Wednesday, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet revealed that parliamentarians were intent on targeting not just operators, but affiliates, financial institutions, media companies and even players. Under the draft law’s terms, agents of the online sites who reside in Turkey would face prison sentences of several years. Similar sentences would await those who assist the sites in processing payments, while media companies that carry advertisements for the sites would face sentences of one to three years.
It will be up to the Turkish Banking Regulation and Supervising Agency to ensure that online gambling firms cannot process payments by debit cards or credit cards. The Telecommunication Communications Agency would be responsible for imposing IP-blocking of online sites.
Players, meanwhile, would face fines of between 100k-500k Turkish lira (US $55k to $278k). In a country with a median annual income of less than $6k, this proposal marks a serious escalation of Turkey’s fight against unauthorized sites. Just as Greece’s war against online gambling sites was viewed as a way to boost the value of betting monopoly OPAP, Turkey is planning to privatize its sports betting lottery this summer, and eliminating the lottery’s online competition might help Turkey realize the $10b sale price it’s seeking.
May 07, 2012
Two players banned in Turkish match-fixing scandal... but Fenerbahce and co cleared
Turkey's football federation has cleared all 16 Turkish teams, including Fenerbahce, of involvement in an alleged match-fixing scandal - but it also has banned two players for up to three years and imposed disciplinary measures on eight players or club officials.
The announcement came a week after the federation said an independent football ethics committee looking into the match-fixing allegations concluded that there was no evidence that alleged attempts to fix games had altered the course of the matches.
A total of 93 officials, players and coaches, including the president of reigning champion Fenerbahce, are on trial, accused of helping fix matches last season.
Ibrahim Akin of Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi has been banned for three years for allegedly fixing the result of a game when his team lost to Fenerbahce 2-0 on May 1, 2011.
Serdar Kulbilge of Genclerbirligi was slapped with a two-year ban for allegedly attempting to fix the result of a game that Fenerbahce won 4-2.
Fenerbahce was barred from this season's Champions League as a result of the investigation.
The announcement came a week after the federation said an independent football ethics committee looking into the match-fixing allegations concluded that there was no evidence that alleged attempts to fix games had altered the course of the matches.
A total of 93 officials, players and coaches, including the president of reigning champion Fenerbahce, are on trial, accused of helping fix matches last season.
Ibrahim Akin of Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi has been banned for three years for allegedly fixing the result of a game when his team lost to Fenerbahce 2-0 on May 1, 2011.
Serdar Kulbilge of Genclerbirligi was slapped with a two-year ban for allegedly attempting to fix the result of a game that Fenerbahce won 4-2.
Fenerbahce was barred from this season's Champions League as a result of the investigation.
March 21, 2012
UEFA urges Turks to deal with match-fixing fast
European football's ruling body UEFA has urged Turkey to deal as quickly as possible with a domestic match-fixing scandal.
Turkish football has been shaken by a scandal in which 93 people, including the president of first division giants Fenerbahce, have been charged with rigging matches in the 2010-11 season.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, speaking ahead of a UEFA Congress Thursday, said Turkish football chiefs had to rule soon to determine whether players or clubs were to be sanctioned.
"The faster a decision is taken the better, not only for UEFA but for Turkey," said Infantino.
"We're speaking a lot with the Turkish federation, but we have to move quickly because it's a question of sport, we have to find out whether we should be preventing someone from participating or not.
"This decision must be taken quickly. For (national) league championships to run smoothly, questions must be answered quickly."
Infantino said such affairs were dealt with differently in Europe.
He added: "In Italy, where there is a specal law, in Germany or in Greece the length of time it takes to deal with such affairs is different.
"Here, we see that it goes on and on but we have to separate the disciplinary part of the affair from the criminal part."
Turkish football has been shaken by a scandal in which 93 people, including the president of first division giants Fenerbahce, have been charged with rigging matches in the 2010-11 season.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, speaking ahead of a UEFA Congress Thursday, said Turkish football chiefs had to rule soon to determine whether players or clubs were to be sanctioned.
"The faster a decision is taken the better, not only for UEFA but for Turkey," said Infantino.
"We're speaking a lot with the Turkish federation, but we have to move quickly because it's a question of sport, we have to find out whether we should be preventing someone from participating or not.
"This decision must be taken quickly. For (national) league championships to run smoothly, questions must be answered quickly."
Infantino said such affairs were dealt with differently in Europe.
He added: "In Italy, where there is a specal law, in Germany or in Greece the length of time it takes to deal with such affairs is different.
"Here, we see that it goes on and on but we have to separate the disciplinary part of the affair from the criminal part."
August 16, 2011
Gaming VC in talks over Sportingbet Turkish business
Gaming VC has revealed this morning that it is in talks with Sportingbet with regards to acquiring the bookmaker’s Turkish language website business, potentially moving the latter one step closer to being taken over by Ladbrokes.
Trading of shares in the AIM-listed operator was suspended this morning pending publication of a re-admission document, and it confirmed this morning that “exclusive” discussions had begun.
Under AIM regulations, any transaction with regards to the Turkish business would be considered a ‘reverse takeover’.
Sportingbet revealed last month that it was considering the future of its Turkish business “as part of its long-term strategy of increasing the proportion of its business mix derived from regulated markets”.At the time the London-listed bookmaker pledged to conduct a review which it explained “may lead to an exit from this business,” which chief executive Andy McIver (pictured) told eGR accounted for 15% of the company’s NGR.
Sportingbet in May agreed terms for the buyout of Australian bookmaker Centrebet and has also stated its intent to apply for Greek and Spanish licences, seen by analysts as better positioning it for a takeover from London-listed peer Ladbrokes, which first made a “highly preliminary approach” in June.
Analyst James Hollins of Evolution Securities today reiterated his firm’s ‘buy’ stance on Sportingbet shares: “We think the sale of Sportingbet’s Turkish operations will pave the way for a Ladbrokes takeover of the group.”
Hollins added that: “We think the market is consistently failing to ascribe any value to Sportingbet’s Turkish operations and we would regard a sale as beneficial to its EV and subsequent valuation.”
Trading of shares in the AIM-listed operator was suspended this morning pending publication of a re-admission document, and it confirmed this morning that “exclusive” discussions had begun.
Under AIM regulations, any transaction with regards to the Turkish business would be considered a ‘reverse takeover’.
Sportingbet revealed last month that it was considering the future of its Turkish business “as part of its long-term strategy of increasing the proportion of its business mix derived from regulated markets”.At the time the London-listed bookmaker pledged to conduct a review which it explained “may lead to an exit from this business,” which chief executive Andy McIver (pictured) told eGR accounted for 15% of the company’s NGR.
Sportingbet in May agreed terms for the buyout of Australian bookmaker Centrebet and has also stated its intent to apply for Greek and Spanish licences, seen by analysts as better positioning it for a takeover from London-listed peer Ladbrokes, which first made a “highly preliminary approach” in June.
Analyst James Hollins of Evolution Securities today reiterated his firm’s ‘buy’ stance on Sportingbet shares: “We think the sale of Sportingbet’s Turkish operations will pave the way for a Ladbrokes takeover of the group.”
Hollins added that: “We think the market is consistently failing to ascribe any value to Sportingbet’s Turkish operations and we would regard a sale as beneficial to its EV and subsequent valuation.”
July 27, 2011
Sportingbet mulls Turkey exit to ease Lads takeover
Sportingbet has confirmed it is considering options for the disposal of its unregulated Turkish business, which would clear the way for a £600m takeover by Ladbrokes.
With the two parties known to be locked in discussions regarding a valuation for the online sports betting specialist, the sale or licensing of Sportingbet’s Turkish business is seen by analysts as removing the penultimate obstacle to Ladbrokes lodging a bid of between 80p to 90p a share.
Noting “press speculation” in this morning’s London Times over the potential disposal of its Turkish business, which according to chief executive Andy McIver (pictured) currently accounts for circa 15% of the operator’s NGR, Sportingbet released a statement to the London Stock Exchange: “The company confirms that, as part of its long-term strategy of increasing the proportion of its business mix derived from regulated markets, it is currently undertaking a review to evaluate its strategic options in relation to its Turkish language website business. This review may lead to an exit from this business.”
Sportingbet first entered Turkey in 1998 via a marketing deal with then owner of Superbahis.com, Maslin Properties. The Turkish authorities however enacted laws in 2007 that effectively outlawed online sports betting outside of the state-owned IDDAA, the same year Sportingbet brought out Maslin’s online business for an initial consideration of £3.5m. Two Sportingbet employees were arrested the following year as part of a clampdown by Turkish authorities, although no prosecutions resulted from the detentions.
Analyst James Hollins of Evoluition Securities said this morning’s news indicated that Sportingbet was “taking a direct and sensible approach to 'dealing with' its Turkey issue”, which offered “strong, secure returns, but [was] ultimately unloved by the market”.
Reiterating his buy recommendation on Sportingbet, Hollins added: “The potential sale could, we think, realise a 'surprisingly' strong cash injection into the group (surprising, as in the markets value Turkey at next to nothing), possibly into three figures (£100m). This would (1) resolve the Turkish issue, (2) improve net cash, (3) increase the likelihood of a Ladbrokes offer and (4) drive an improved share price, in our opinion.”
Sportingbet recently agreed terms for its acquisition of Australian online business Centrebet, the completion of which would increase the share of its business from regulated markets to around 33%. Regulation in its core markets of Spain and Greece would lift this regulated component to as high as 60%, but Greek draft law is currently held up by a disagreement by the ruling party over its form and the EC citing concerns regarding its compatibility with EU law.
With the two parties known to be locked in discussions regarding a valuation for the online sports betting specialist, the sale or licensing of Sportingbet’s Turkish business is seen by analysts as removing the penultimate obstacle to Ladbrokes lodging a bid of between 80p to 90p a share.
Noting “press speculation” in this morning’s London Times over the potential disposal of its Turkish business, which according to chief executive Andy McIver (pictured) currently accounts for circa 15% of the operator’s NGR, Sportingbet released a statement to the London Stock Exchange: “The company confirms that, as part of its long-term strategy of increasing the proportion of its business mix derived from regulated markets, it is currently undertaking a review to evaluate its strategic options in relation to its Turkish language website business. This review may lead to an exit from this business.”
Sportingbet first entered Turkey in 1998 via a marketing deal with then owner of Superbahis.com, Maslin Properties. The Turkish authorities however enacted laws in 2007 that effectively outlawed online sports betting outside of the state-owned IDDAA, the same year Sportingbet brought out Maslin’s online business for an initial consideration of £3.5m. Two Sportingbet employees were arrested the following year as part of a clampdown by Turkish authorities, although no prosecutions resulted from the detentions.
Analyst James Hollins of Evoluition Securities said this morning’s news indicated that Sportingbet was “taking a direct and sensible approach to 'dealing with' its Turkey issue”, which offered “strong, secure returns, but [was] ultimately unloved by the market”.
Reiterating his buy recommendation on Sportingbet, Hollins added: “The potential sale could, we think, realise a 'surprisingly' strong cash injection into the group (surprising, as in the markets value Turkey at next to nothing), possibly into three figures (£100m). This would (1) resolve the Turkish issue, (2) improve net cash, (3) increase the likelihood of a Ladbrokes offer and (4) drive an improved share price, in our opinion.”
Sportingbet recently agreed terms for its acquisition of Australian online business Centrebet, the completion of which would increase the share of its business from regulated markets to around 33%. Regulation in its core markets of Spain and Greece would lift this regulated component to as high as 60%, but Greek draft law is currently held up by a disagreement by the ruling party over its form and the EC citing concerns regarding its compatibility with EU law.
July 26, 2011
Match-fixing scandal delays start to Turkish football season
The Turkish Football Federation has delayed the start of the new football season by more than one month as a result of the ongoing investigation into the widening match-fixing scandal which has now seen more than thirty people arrested for their involvement.
Previously set to kick off on August 7th, the Turkish Football Federation has confirmed that Turkey’s Spor Toto Super League will now begin the 2011/12 season on September 9th, a delay of more than one month.
In addition, Bank Asya 1 League, the second division of the Turkish professional leagues, will begin a day later on September 10th.
The delay to the new football season comes as Turkish football faces up to one of its biggest ever challenges, as serious allegations of match-fixing and corruption have been uncovered by authorities in the country.
More than 30 people are facing charges for their role in the growing scandal, including the president of champions Fenerbahce, Aziz Yildirim.
This followed an investigation into nineteen domestic football games, thought to include last year’s Turkish Cup final which was won by Besiktas 4-3 on penalties against Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor. The victory enabled Besiktas to complete in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Earlier this month, European football governing body UEFA said that it was fully aware of the current match-fixing allegations in Turkey surrounding certain clubs, individuals and players, and is monitoring the situation on a daily basis while maintaining close contact with the TFF.
The Turkish Football Federation has already decided to postpone the 6th TFF Super Cup, involving Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, which was scheduled to be played on July 31st.
Previously set to kick off on August 7th, the Turkish Football Federation has confirmed that Turkey’s Spor Toto Super League will now begin the 2011/12 season on September 9th, a delay of more than one month.
In addition, Bank Asya 1 League, the second division of the Turkish professional leagues, will begin a day later on September 10th.
The delay to the new football season comes as Turkish football faces up to one of its biggest ever challenges, as serious allegations of match-fixing and corruption have been uncovered by authorities in the country.
More than 30 people are facing charges for their role in the growing scandal, including the president of champions Fenerbahce, Aziz Yildirim.
This followed an investigation into nineteen domestic football games, thought to include last year’s Turkish Cup final which was won by Besiktas 4-3 on penalties against Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor. The victory enabled Besiktas to complete in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Earlier this month, European football governing body UEFA said that it was fully aware of the current match-fixing allegations in Turkey surrounding certain clubs, individuals and players, and is monitoring the situation on a daily basis while maintaining close contact with the TFF.
The Turkish Football Federation has already decided to postpone the 6th TFF Super Cup, involving Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, which was scheduled to be played on July 31st.
July 14, 2011
More arrests in Turkish match-fixing probe
Turkey's state-run news agency says there have been five more arrests in a growing match-fixing probe, raising the number of suspects in jail to more than 30 and implicating leading club Besiktas.
The Anatolia news said Thursday that Besiktas' deputy chairman Serdar Adali and coach Tayfur Havutcu were charged late Wednesday. Two players from Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor were also arrested.
Prosecutors have charged dozens of suspects, including the president of league champion Fenerbahce, over corruption allegations involving 19 games.
Besiktas finished fifth in the Turkish first league last season and also won the Turkish Cup.
The Anatolia news said Thursday that Besiktas' deputy chairman Serdar Adali and coach Tayfur Havutcu were charged late Wednesday. Two players from Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor were also arrested.
Prosecutors have charged dozens of suspects, including the president of league champion Fenerbahce, over corruption allegations involving 19 games.
Besiktas finished fifth in the Turkish first league last season and also won the Turkish Cup.
March 29, 2010
Turkish police arrest dozens in football fixing probe
Turkish police have arrested scores of people in connection with a Europe-wide football match-fixing scandal that began four months ago in Germany.
The scandal is dominating the news in Turkey, pushing aside ongoing judicial and political crises.
The arrests were made in 26 towns and cities across the country. Some of those detained are household names in Turkey where football is fanatically followed by tens of millions.
One of those arrested is former international star Arif Erdem, who shot to fame in the 2000 European football championship by scoring the fastest international hat trick. He is seen as the most significant arrest in Turkey's match-fixing investigation.
Erdem is now coach of a first-division team, and denies involvement in the scandal.
He says he has nothing to do with the accusations and has nothing to hide. Erdem said because his name is included in the investigation he turned himself into authorities. He thanked the police for his treatment and said he spent the night helping them with the inquiry.
The investigation is the biggest of its kind in Turkey. It was prompted after German police said four months ago they had broken the world's biggest match-fixing conspiracy. German investigators believe 200 matches in 11 countries were fixed by players and referees.
But the Turkish Football Federation said these arrests are not related to the German investigation. This latest inquiry is suspected to involve as many 30 Turkish games. While most of the games are believed to involve lower-league games, the arrest of a coach from the first division is fueling allegations the scandal could implicate some of the country's most prestigious teams.
Football is big business in Turkey, with the top 20 teams earning $6 billion last season.
On the streets of Istanbul there is shock and resignation. "We loved them actually they were famous players, we did not think that they could do this. We are shocked. But it has happened. But it must be good actually in the end, because the guilties must be punished," one person said.
Another added "Because this is Turkey, it is very normal, because we have corruption everywhere. When I saw it on TV, I said it is very normal that they are also fixing the games. They are fixing everything in Turkey, there is so much corruption."
Rumors of match fixing are frequently heard with claims that clubs or referees threw games, but are usually dismissed as sour grapes from losing supporters. With so many arrests and more expected, any supporters' claim of vindication will be overshadowed by the realization the nation's favorite game may have fallen victim to the scourge of corruption.
The scandal is dominating the news in Turkey, pushing aside ongoing judicial and political crises.
The arrests were made in 26 towns and cities across the country. Some of those detained are household names in Turkey where football is fanatically followed by tens of millions.
Erdem is now coach of a first-division team, and denies involvement in the scandal.
He says he has nothing to do with the accusations and has nothing to hide. Erdem said because his name is included in the investigation he turned himself into authorities. He thanked the police for his treatment and said he spent the night helping them with the inquiry.
The investigation is the biggest of its kind in Turkey. It was prompted after German police said four months ago they had broken the world's biggest match-fixing conspiracy. German investigators believe 200 matches in 11 countries were fixed by players and referees.
But the Turkish Football Federation said these arrests are not related to the German investigation. This latest inquiry is suspected to involve as many 30 Turkish games. While most of the games are believed to involve lower-league games, the arrest of a coach from the first division is fueling allegations the scandal could implicate some of the country's most prestigious teams.
Football is big business in Turkey, with the top 20 teams earning $6 billion last season.
On the streets of Istanbul there is shock and resignation. "We loved them actually they were famous players, we did not think that they could do this. We are shocked. But it has happened. But it must be good actually in the end, because the guilties must be punished," one person said.
Another added "Because this is Turkey, it is very normal, because we have corruption everywhere. When I saw it on TV, I said it is very normal that they are also fixing the games. They are fixing everything in Turkey, there is so much corruption."
Rumors of match fixing are frequently heard with claims that clubs or referees threw games, but are usually dismissed as sour grapes from losing supporters. With so many arrests and more expected, any supporters' claim of vindication will be overshadowed by the realization the nation's favorite game may have fallen victim to the scourge of corruption.
February 22, 2010
Eight arrested over match-fixing allegations in Turkey
A Diyarbakır court arrested eight people Monday on accusations of illegal betting and match-fixing, releasing 28 others pending trial.
The 36 people were among 77 taken into custody Friday in an operation led by the Diyarbakır prosecutor’s office. Houses and offices were raid in 13 cities, including Istanbul, Antalya, Muğla and Gaziantep.
Those in custody were accused of organizing illegal online betting on football matches and manipulating some lower division games to maximize profits. The accused include nine professional footballers and a coach.
The court also decided to freeze the assets of 25 people allegedly involved in the organization.
In a written statement, Diyarbakır police said the operations were conducted with the knowledge and cooperation of the Turkish Football Federation, or TFF.
Ömer Bedük, a legal adviser for the TFF, visited Diyarbakır police headquarters on the weekend and said, “I wanted to congratulate and thank police officials on behalf of TFF President Mahmut Özgener.”
He said: “The TFF has been a firm supporter of actions against illegal gambling and match-fixing. We will share our knowledge and legal documents with the prosecutor’s office to speed up the trial process. Match-fixing is a cancer for Turkish football and must be stopped immediately.”
Mehmet Aslan, legal advisor to Spor-Toto, the owner of Turkey’s official betting game, İddaa, urged citizens to gamble legally. “The money that should stay in Turkey goes abroad through illegal gambling. The total amount of illegal gambling in Turkey is estimated at over $1 billion.”
Aslan also said Spor-Toto would apply to become an intervening party in the case.
The 36 people were among 77 taken into custody Friday in an operation led by the Diyarbakır prosecutor’s office. Houses and offices were raid in 13 cities, including Istanbul, Antalya, Muğla and Gaziantep.
Those in custody were accused of organizing illegal online betting on football matches and manipulating some lower division games to maximize profits. The accused include nine professional footballers and a coach.
The court also decided to freeze the assets of 25 people allegedly involved in the organization.
In a written statement, Diyarbakır police said the operations were conducted with the knowledge and cooperation of the Turkish Football Federation, or TFF.
Ömer Bedük, a legal adviser for the TFF, visited Diyarbakır police headquarters on the weekend and said, “I wanted to congratulate and thank police officials on behalf of TFF President Mahmut Özgener.”
He said: “The TFF has been a firm supporter of actions against illegal gambling and match-fixing. We will share our knowledge and legal documents with the prosecutor’s office to speed up the trial process. Match-fixing is a cancer for Turkish football and must be stopped immediately.”
Mehmet Aslan, legal advisor to Spor-Toto, the owner of Turkey’s official betting game, İddaa, urged citizens to gamble legally. “The money that should stay in Turkey goes abroad through illegal gambling. The total amount of illegal gambling in Turkey is estimated at over $1 billion.”
Aslan also said Spor-Toto would apply to become an intervening party in the case.
April 09, 2009
Lottomatica Dogan quit Turkish lottery bid
Italy’s Lottomatica S.p.A has this morning announced the termination of its joint venture with Turkey’s Dogan Sirketler Grubu Holding A.S. The two companies had entered into a memorandum of understanding on February 16th 2009 forming the JV in order to participate in the tender for the privatisation of the Turkish national lottery.
In a stock market announcement Thursday, Dogan confirmed termination of the JV, saying that it had decided not to bid in the tender due to current market conditions.
The Dogan Lottomatica consortium was approved by Turkey’s privatisation administration earlier this year having met the preliminary requirements for participation in the tender, which will grant the winner a 10-year license to operate the state-owned national lottery Milli Piyango.
Other participants in the tender include Intralot, Turkcell, Austrian Lotteries and OPAP.
The privatisation process for the national lottery, which generates sales in excess of US$1 billion annually, is expected to commence in August.
In a stock market announcement Thursday, Dogan confirmed termination of the JV, saying that it had decided not to bid in the tender due to current market conditions.
The Dogan Lottomatica consortium was approved by Turkey’s privatisation administration earlier this year having met the preliminary requirements for participation in the tender, which will grant the winner a 10-year license to operate the state-owned national lottery Milli Piyango.
Other participants in the tender include Intralot, Turkcell, Austrian Lotteries and OPAP.
The privatisation process for the national lottery, which generates sales in excess of US$1 billion annually, is expected to commence in August.
July 29, 2008
One Sportingbet employee released, no formal charges for other detainee
One of Sportingbet’s two employees detained by the authorities in Turkey has been released without charge and has returned to the UK, while the other has been refused bail and is awaiting formal charges, the company said this morning.
Both Turkish nationals appealed separately against their arrests in May this year in relation to Sportingbet’s Turkish offering Superbahis, the operator said it was still seeking clarification as to what the formal charges were. A number of employees connected to Maslin Properties, Sportingbet’s former marketing partner in Turkey, were still in custody in connection with this matter. Sportingbet said its relationship with Maslin ended on 1 March 2007.
Turkey introduced regulation in February 2007 that makes it illegal for “unauthorised” operators to offer bets to Turkish citizens. Sportingbet has said it is unclear whether the law applies to itself because its servers are located outside the country. The group continues to take bets from the Turkish market.
Sportingbet’s share of revenues from Turkey has dropped over recent months. For the third quarter ended 30 April 2008, net gaming revenue (NGR) from Turkey was approximately 14% of group NGR, compared to approximately 26% on the previous quarter and since March 2008, NGR from Turkey was down to around 9% of group NGR.
Both Turkish nationals appealed separately against their arrests in May this year in relation to Sportingbet’s Turkish offering Superbahis, the operator said it was still seeking clarification as to what the formal charges were. A number of employees connected to Maslin Properties, Sportingbet’s former marketing partner in Turkey, were still in custody in connection with this matter. Sportingbet said its relationship with Maslin ended on 1 March 2007.
Turkey introduced regulation in February 2007 that makes it illegal for “unauthorised” operators to offer bets to Turkish citizens. Sportingbet has said it is unclear whether the law applies to itself because its servers are located outside the country. The group continues to take bets from the Turkish market.
Sportingbet’s share of revenues from Turkey has dropped over recent months. For the third quarter ended 30 April 2008, net gaming revenue (NGR) from Turkey was approximately 14% of group NGR, compared to approximately 26% on the previous quarter and since March 2008, NGR from Turkey was down to around 9% of group NGR.
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