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Sport

Turkey detains refereeing chief Ferhat Gundogdu and six others in referee-appointment meddling probe

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced the detention of Ferhat Gundogdu, chairman of the TFF's central referee board, and six others over alleged interference in referee classifications, assignments and examinations.

By Tom Ellery · · 1 min read

Turkey has detained the head and six members of its main football referee board over accusations of interference in refereeing procedures, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced on Tuesday.

Ferhat Gundogdu, chairman of the Turkish Football Federation’s central referee board (MHK), was among the seven detained, Gurlek said on X, calling it the latest move in a “fight for clean football”.

The investigation examined allegations around referee classifications and assignments, scoring and appointment procedures, and officiating rule examinations, the minister said. Investigators took statements from complainants and witnesses, sought expert reports, and examined telecom records and financial data from Turkey’s MASAK financial crimes watchdog.

Operations were carried out in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazig and Manisa, according to national press agency Anadolu. Other detainees include Active Referees Association president Ferdi Karadoruk, former MHK deputy chairman Ahmet Sahin and former member Yunus Yildirim.

“We will resolutely continue our fight for clean football to shed light on allegations that undermine confidence in Turkish football,” Gurlek said. There was no immediate response from Gundogdu’s representatives to a Reuters request for comment.

The arrests follow a separate illegal-betting scandal a year ago in which the TFF suspended 149 referees after 371 of 571 officials were found to hold betting accounts. Gurlek did not link the two investigations.

Sources

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