Sadettin Saran, president of Fenerbahçe, was taken into custody on Wednesday evening in Istanbul. The charges? Drug procurement, facilitating narcotics use, and personal consumption. A hair test reportedly came back positive for cocaine.
A widening probe shakes Turkish football
The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office confirmed the detention following "additional evidence" in an ongoing investigation. Saran, a dual Turkish-American citizen and prominent businessman, had already been summoned last week to provide hair and blood samples at a forensic medical facility.
Hours before his arrest, Saran publicly denied the allegations on Instagram, stating he had never used the substance in question and vowing to request a new examination. His statement came just after state broadcaster TRT reported traces of narcotics had been detected in his samples.
High-profile names caught in the dragnet
Since early December, over a dozen individuals have been detained in this investigation. They include television presenters, journalists, singers, and social media personalities. Charges range from drug production and trafficking to facilitating prostitution. Haberturk TV editor-in-chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy and television anchor Ela Rumeysa Cebeci are among those already arrested.
A club no stranger to controversy
This is not the first time Fenerbahçe finds itself embroiled in legal turmoil. Former president Aziz Yıldırım spent over a year in jail in 2012 on match-fixing charges before being acquitted after a retrial found the original case had been influenced by corrupt judges, prosecutors, and police officers.
The club is also caught up in a separate ongoing investigation into illegal betting and match-fixing across Turkish football—a probe that has recently seen arrest warrants issued for Super Lig players from several clubs, including Galatasaray.
What does this mean for Fenerbahçe?
The timing couldn't be worse. Fenerbahçe is in the midst of a competitive season, battling for domestic supremacy and trying to establish continental credibility. A leadership vacuum—even temporary—creates instability at board level and could affect transfer strategy, coaching decisions, and overall club morale.
If charges are formalized and Saran is unable to continue his duties, the club will face a succession question. Turkish football regulations and the club's statutes will determine how—and how quickly—a transition could occur.
For now, Fenerbahçe waits. And Turkish football watches.