ISTANBUL (AP) — More than 1,000 players were suspended by the Turkish Football Federation in a widening betting scandal , including national team defender Eren Elmali who has been a Champions League regular for Galatasaray this season.

Elmali published a statement late Monday to explain his involvement in the case after he was pulled from the Turkey squad preparing to play World Cup qualifying games against Spain and Bulgaria.

The 25-year-old Elmali posted on Instagram that he bet on a game about five years ago that did not involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray this year.

Elmali and his Galatasaray teammate Metehan Baltaci are among 1,024 players on a list published on Monday by the Turkish federation who have been referred to a disciplinary commission.

The federation said

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