Turkish authorities have arrested the head of the country’s Central Referee Board, Ferhat Gündoğdu, and six other football officials as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in refereeing processes.
The suspects were detained during simultaneous operations in four provinces, following an investigation coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities said the investigation involved allegations of interference in referee classifications, match appointments, scoring procedures and examinations on football rules.
Investigators reportedly examined witness statements, expert reports, telecommunications records and financial data from Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board.
Among those detained alongside Gündoğdu are Ferdi Karadoruk, president of the Active Referees Association, former Central Referee Board vice president Ahmet Şahin, former board member Yunus Yıldırım and other football administrators.
Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the authorities would continue investigating allegations that could undermine confidence in the country’s football refereeing system.
The latest investigation comes after a major refereeing and illegal betting scandal that led Turkey’s Football Federation to suspend numerous referees in 2025. Authorities have not established a direct link between that earlier betting case and the current investigation.
The Turkish Football Federation said it was continuing to cooperate with authorities as investigations into football integrity remain ongoing.
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