Turkish authorities arrest head of soccer refereeing body and his deputy amid investigation

Turkish authorities have apprehended the leader of the nation's soccer refereeing organization, his assistant and five additional individuals as part of an inquiry into "restoring public trust in football," announced Justice Minister Akın Gürlek on Tuesday. The investigation stems from "allegations of irregularity" encompassing "interference in referee classification, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations," according to Gürlek.

Authorities executed search warrants on Tuesday morning at the suspects' residences, workplaces and offices. Gürlek pledged to persistently pursue clean football, with the aim of clarifying allegations that have damaged trust in Turkish football, ensuring accountability for those responsible, and restoring sportsmanship on the pitch.

Last year, the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees due to alleged involvement in a betting scandal. In July, Turkish authorities detained 17 soccer club officials as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal betting and match-fixing that has tarnished Turkish soccer. It remains unclear whether Tuesday's arrests are connected to those previous scandals. Turkey will co-host the 2032 men's European Championship with Italy.