Illegal Betting Scandal: Fenerbahçe Demands Transparency in Galatasaray Investigation

The club addressed the criminal complaint filed due to allegations of illegal betting advertisements involving Galatasaray through an official statement on their website.

In the statement, the club remarked, “It has been learned that shortly after the criminal complaint filed by the Spor Toto Directorate General, the prosecutor’s office issued a decision of ‘No Grounds for Prosecution.'”

The statement continued: “We believe this decision contradicts the fundamental principles of the Turkish legal system and the public interest. The ruling following the investigation is far from what is required for Turkish football to proceed on a clean, transparent, and fair foundation.”

Fenerbahçe’s Detailed Statement:

“Reports and admissions from Galatasaray Club officials regarding their sponsorship deal with an illegal betting company have deeply wounded public conscience. The explicit admissions by club officials and subsequent developments underline the need for a meticulous and sensitive examination of the matter.”

Fenerbahçe elaborated on several key concerns:

1. Conflicting Statements: Inconsistent and contradictory public statements by Galatasaray officials were not adequately scrutinized.
2. Ignoring Illegal Ties: Despite the ease of identifying the brand’s connection to illegal betting through basic research, no serious investigation was conducted.
3. Lack of Information from Authorities: Agencies like the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), Spor Toto, and the National Lottery were not consulted for documentation or clarification.
4. Failure to Review Sponsorship Agreements: The sponsorship contract was not summoned or examined, nor were the parties involved in negotiations questioned.
5. Incomplete Investigation: Despite substantial suspicion of illegal betting activity, the case was closed in a short time with insufficient evidence collected.
6. Unquestioned Statements: The prosecutor’s office did not adequately explain how it determined the absence of criminal intent without taking statements from involved parties.
7. Evasion and Questionable Claims: Claims such as “we didn’t know” about a website with 735 access block decisions over the past three years were deemed insulting to public intelligence.
8. Role of TFF: The Turkish Football Federation‘s involvement and its approval processes were not sufficiently clarified, despite their potential significance.
9. Unanswered Questions on Revenue: The fate of the revenue allegedly obtained through the sponsorship was not investigated.
10. Leadership Accountability: The reliance on arbitrary statements like “we didn’t know” by Galatasaray officials contradicted basic principles of responsible management and the universal legal axiom that ignorance of the law excuses no one.
11. Selective Evidence: The decision not to prosecute was based on incomplete investigations, with only favorable evidence considered.

Fenerbahçe’s Commitment to Justice

The club declared its intent to ensure justice, emphasizing: “This decision is far from what Turkish football needs to be clean, transparent, and fair. The Spor Toto Directorate General will undoubtedly appeal this decision. We firmly believe that this legal injustice will be rectified.”

The statement concluded: “As the competition on the field grows unfair, so does the competition off the field. We call on all stakeholders in sports, along with the relevant state authorities, to address and eliminate this unfair competition. As Fenerbahçe, we will pursue all legal avenues to ensure full and uncompromised justice. For the integrity of Turkish sports and the preservation of fair competition, we urge all relevant authorities to act responsibly without losing faith in the rule of law.”