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Turkey’s refereeing chief, Ferhat Gundogdu, and six others have been arrested as authorities investigate allegations of interference in referee appointments, rankings, and assessment processes, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has announced.
Gundogdu, who heads Turkey’s football refereeing body, his deputy, and five others were detained following an investigation into claims involving the country’s referee classification system, match assignments, scoring procedures, and examination processes.
“Claims regarding interference in the formation of referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations, have been investigated,” Gurlek wrote in a social media statement on Tuesday.
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The justice minister said investigators searched the suspects’ homes, workplaces, and offices as part of the investigation.
“We will steadfastly continue the fight for clean football so that claims undermining trust in Turkish football are clarified, those responsible are held accountable before the law, and football is remembered for the effort, struggle, and sportsmanship on the field,” Gurlek added.
The development comes a year after Turkish football authorities launched a major investigation into illegal betting allegations involving referees and players. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees accused of involvement in the scandal.
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A TFF review found that 371 of the 571 referees officiating in Turkey’s professional leagues had betting accounts, while 152 had actively placed bets. The wider investigation led to the arrest of 29 people, including 14 footballers, among them Fenerbahce midfielder Mert Hakan Yandas.
More than 1,000 players were also suspended, including 25 from Turkey’s top division.
However, Gurlek did not link the current investigation into referee appointments and classifications with last year’s betting scandal. Authorities have not said whether the latest arrests are connected to the previous case or part of a separate inquiry.
