Trabzonspor President Ertugrul Dogan has addressed the growing controversy surrounding a betting investigation involving several club officials. He denied any deliberate intention to break football regulations and confirmed that the Turkish club is prepared to defend its position before the relevant authorities.

His comments followed the Turkish Football Federation's decision to refer several current and former Trabzonspor officials, including Dogan himself, to its disciplinary committee over matters related to betting accounts.

The decision prompted the club's president to explain his position and respond to the allegations.

Investigation Details

Speaking to Turkish television channel A Spor, Dogan explained that he has worked in football management for nine years and had never faced a similar situation during that time.

He suggested that the rules concerning betting activities had not been communicated clearly enough to club administrators.

According to Dogan, the Turkish Football Federation had previously provided guidance to referees and coaches about betting regulations, but club executives had not received the same level of information.

He believes this lack of communication contributed to the current situation.

Dogan also expressed his confidence in the current and former officials involved in the investigation, saying he knows them personally and trusts their integrity.

He stressed that he does not believe any of them deliberately broke the rules or intended to damage Trabzonspor's reputation.

He also emphasized that being referred to a disciplinary investigation does not automatically mean that a person has committed an offense, and that the official process should be completed before conclusions are reached.

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Closed Account and Defense

The Trabzonspor president revealed that he previously held an account with a company connected to betting activities, but said the account had been closed long before the current investigation began.

He explained that some betting-related companies had previously sponsored Turkish football clubs and organized promotional events at official venues, including the Turkish Football Federation's headquarters.

For that reason, Dogan said he had not expected an old account to become the subject of disciplinary concerns.

However, he acknowledged that club officials should have paid closer attention to the relevant rules and procedures.

While accepting that some administrative mistakes may have occurred, he strongly denied that there had been any deliberate attempt to violate the regulations.

Dogan confirmed that Trabzonspor will present its explanation and defense to the disciplinary committee while respecting the federation's official procedures and decisions.

He also described the situation as an opportunity for Turkish football clubs to review their responsibilities and improve their understanding of betting regulations to prevent similar problems in the future.

The Trabzonspor president concluded by reaffirming his commitment to protecting the club's interests and supporting Turkish football. He insisted that he would continue to explain his position and defend the club before the relevant authorities.

The investigation comes at a time when Trabzonspor is attracting considerable attention, particularly following the arrival of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah during the summer transfer window.

The final outcome of the case remains dependent on the disciplinary committee's findings and decisions.