Entry Date: 04 June 2026 13:25
Update Date: 04 June 2026 13:43
Fenerbahçe President Sadettin Saran was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for encouraging illegal betting. Here are all the details…
Fenerbahçe Sports Club President Sadettin Saran and his brother Alan Kenan Saran, who were sued in Istanbul for allegedly encouraging illegal betting, were sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison each. The lawyers of the defendants attended the decision hearing of the case in which 4 people were tried at the Istanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance. The lawyers of the defendants, who did not accept the accusations, requested an acquittal in the case.
The judge who decided the case sentenced the defendants Sadettin Saran and Alan Kenan Saran to 2 years and 6 months in prison and a judicial fine of 562 thousand 500 liras each for “advertising and otherwise encouraging people to play fixed odds or joint betting or games of chance based on sports competitions”.
The judge acquitted the other defendants, Emre Eren and Azade Zeynep Haksal.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was noted that the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) was requested to determine the match broadcasts that advertised illegal betting.
In the indictment, which referred to the response letter sent by RTÜK to the prosecutor’s office, it was stated that it was determined that the illegal betting advertisements in the football competitions broadcast on the “S SPORT” internet broadcasting platform serving under Saran Internet Television Publishing Inc. in 2023 were unlicensed, and that the illegal betting site advertisements were made by placing them on stadium billboards and next to both goals.
In the indictment, it was stated that the advertisements in the match broadcasts in question reached large audiences, and it was evaluated that betting games, which are considered as “digital drugs”, were suitable for disrupting the structure of society by negatively affecting individuals materially and morally.
In the indictment, which stated that publishing illegal betting advertisements placed physically or virtually on stadium billboards during match broadcasts constitutes a crime for the broadcaster, it was stated that the party that advertises and accepts the advertisement is not the federation or sports club that operates the stadium.
In the indictment, “In terms of the publications subject to the investigation, there is sufficient suspicion that the broadcasting company’s general manager, broadcasting director and responsible managers, as well as the members of the board of directors, who are authorized to represent the legal entity of the broadcasting company and are authorized for all kinds of work and transactions required for the management of the company, and who have knowledge and approval in the broadcasting of matches containing illegal betting advertisements, are jointly responsible and at fault.” evaluation was included.
In the indictment, a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years was requested for the defendants Sadettin Saran and Alan Kenan Saran for “encouraging people to advertise and otherwise place fixed odds or joint betting or games of chance based on sports competitions”.
A prison sentence of 1 year and 3 months to 5 years and 3 months each was requested for the defendants Azade Zeynep Haksal and Emre Eren, on the grounds that they committed the same crime in a chain.