Turkish authorities detain 17 soccer club officials in illegal betting probe

Turkish authorities detained 17 soccer club officials in a widening investigation into alleged illegal betting and match-fixing, including executives from top-tier clubs Galatasaray and Besiktas. Raids across Istanbul and nine provinces targeted suspects who allegedly placed bets while serving in official roles, with Justice Minister Akin Gurlek emphasizing a decisive fight against sports-related corruption. The scandal, which began with referee betting investigations, has expanded to players and officials, casting doubt on Turkish soccer's recent revival.