Trabzonspor rocked in betting scandal as Hearts Euro rivals to see president miss Jambos clash
Hearts are travelling to Turkey for their clash with the Super Lig side who’s president has been sent an update.
The president of Trabzonspor will not be in attendance for the club’s Conference League clash with Hearts after being handed a 45-day ban in relation to betting.
Wouter Vrancken’s side are aiming to bounce back from a bruising 7-1 thumping off Celtic in the Premiership but tests don’t come any easier against a Mo Salah-led team from Turkey. Hearts will make the long journey to Papara Park ahead of Thursday’s match but their opponents’ president, Ertugrul Dogan, won’t be at the stadium to watch events unfold.
Turkey’s domestic game is in the midst of a gambling scandal with Dogan included. He has been named among 147 club officials to receive 45-day bans from the Turkish Football Federation over a breach of betting rules. It means no involvement in Thursday’s match and for most of what’s left in Trabzonspor’s league phase campaign in the Conference League.
What has happened to Trabzonspor president?
A statement included the following: “Ertugrul Dogan has been sentenced to a 45-day suspension pursuant to Article 57/2 of the Football Disciplinary Regulations and through the application of Article 13 of the FDT, has been sentenced to a 45-day suspension.”
448 officials were being probed over allegations they had placed bets while in their respective positions. Club officials are prohibited from taking any part in betting activities by the TTF regulations, alongside those of FIFA and UEFA, just like players and coaches. Those involved had been at clubs in the nation’s two top leagues over the previous five years and 147 were found to be in breach of the rules. No football duties can be carried out during the suspension period.
Betting is being clamped down in Turkey, like during November 2025, when 149 referees and 1,204 players were handed bans after a TFF investigation. Hearts will maintain their focus on the park after a 1-1 draw with Nordsjaelland at Tynecastle kicked off their league phase campaign in the Conference League.
Vrancken said after Sunday’s sobering Celtic loss: "Really disappointing and also the way it happened. Two set plays killed our game at the start of the game. All of their goals even, when I go back, individual mistakes and then it's difficult to win a game.
"In the set play moments, you have to be on top of your toes, you have to be on front foot to attack the ball there. Against individual mistakes, you can't do too much actually. Only thing that cannot happen is that everybody starts doubting now in his own qualities. Also, when you are one of the guys that made a mistake, just learn from it. After tomorrow, it has to be gone because there's another game to come. We have to step up again and push and keep pushing."