Turkish referees' chief arrested in corruption investigation
The head of Turkey's referees' committee is detained along with six others as part of an investigation into corruption. head of Turkey’s referees committee, is among seven people detained in an investigation into alleged mobbing and document forgery
Turkish police have arrested the head of the country's referees body in a corruption investigation. The inquiry centers on allegations of interference in referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment procedures, as well as rule examinations. Ferhat Gundogdu, president of the refereeing body, and his vice-president, along with four others, are among those detained.
Police conducted searches at homes, workplaces and offices as part of the operation. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek vowed to pursue a "clean football" agenda, ensuring allegations tarnishing trust in Turkish football are exposed and those responsible face legal consequences. In November 2025, the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees following an investigation that uncovered hundreds of match officials with betting accounts.
Twenty-nine individuals, including 14 footballers, were arrested in that scandal. However, Gurlek did not draw a connection between last year's betting scandal and the ongoing probe.
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