ISTANBUL: The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) on Friday suspended 149 referees accused of betting on matches.
The TFF said in a statement that its disciplinary committee had handed out suspensions ranging from eight to 12 months, adding that investigations are continuing into three other referees.
An investigation by the federation into 571 referees in the Turkish professional leagues revealed on Monday that 371 of them had sports betting accounts and 152 were actively betting.
“Refereeing is a profession of honor,” said TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu on Thursday.”
“Anyone who tarnishes that honor...will never again be involved in Turkish football,“
The TFF said on Monday that 22 of the officials (seven match referees and 15 assistants) work in the top league.
Ten of the referees listed by the TFF placed more than 10,000 bets, with one of them alone placing 18,227 bets. Forty-two referees each bet on more than 1,000 football matches, the head of Turkish football said on Friday.
However, he did not specify whether any of them were suspected of betting on matches they had officiated.
An investigation has also been launched by the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office.
Turkish football suspends 149 referees accused of betting
https://arab.news/7jbx5
Turkish football suspends 149 referees accused of betting
- The TFF said in a statement that its disciplinary committee had handed out suspensions ranging from eight to 12 months
- Ten of the referees listed by the TFF placed more than 10,000 bets
Colombia’s Rodriguez signs for Minnesota on short-term deal
- Rodriguez will occupy an international squad spot pending a medical and receipt of his visa.
- “We’re excited to add his creativity and football intelligence to our group,” El-Ahmad said
MINNESOTA: Colombia captain James Rodriguez signed for Minnesota United on Friday, marking his seventh club since leaving Real Madrid in 2020 as the former World Cup Golden Boot winner continues his globe-trotting career.
The Major League Soccer club announced that the 34-year-old midfielder has signed a guaranteed contract through June 2026, with a club option to extend until December 2026.
Rodriguez will occupy an international squad spot pending a medical and receipt of his visa.
“James is a player whose quality, vision, and experience at the highest levels of the game are unquestioned. We’re excited to add his creativity and football intelligence to our group,” the club’s sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad said in a statement.
“At the same time, this move is about collective strength — not about putting everything on one individual.”
Rodriguez, who won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup in a breakthrough tournament that earned him a move to Real Madrid, has become something of a footballing nomad in recent years.
Since the 2019-20 campaign, the playmaker has plied his trade across continents for Everton, Al-Rayyan, Olympiacos, Sao Paulo, Rayo Vallecano and Leon before landing in Minnesota.
“I’m very happy for this new chapter in my life. I hope to be at my best so I can bring joy to this city and to all of the people who are putting their faith in me,” Rodriguez said.
“I’m looking forward to meeting all of the passionate Minnesota fans because I’m also a passionate player who wants to give everything on the field and always wants to win.”
Rodriguez will get his first chance to impress when the new MLS season kicks off on February 21, with Minnesota taking on Austin.
