Turkish authorities have seized control of top-division football club Eyüpspor and eight companies linked to its jailed president as part of an investigation into illegal betting and suspected money laundering, Turkish media reported on Friday.
The İstanbul 12th Criminal Court of Peace appointed trustees to Eyüpspor Futbol Yatırımları A.Ş. and eight other companies owned or co-owned by Eyüpspor President Murat Özkaya. The trusteeship was assigned to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), a state body that takes over companies under court orders.
Özkaya’s file was transferred to a prosecutor’s bureau focused on alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offenses, signaling the investigation is moving beyond match integrity to follow suspected financial flows linked to betting.
Özkaya was arrested on November 10 on charges tied to influencing match outcomes as part of the same betting investigation.
The trusteeship decision comes as Turkey’s football authorities show a growing internal crackdown on betting by people inside the sport.
On December 29 the Turkish Football Federation referred 353 regional referees and assistant referees and 75 regional observers to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board under its disciplinary rules.
On January 8 the disciplinary board issued penalties to 489 people, handing down bans ranging from two to 12 months.