Operations were carried out at designated addresses in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazığ and Manisa as part of the “Referees file” investigation conducted under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Seven suspects were detained in the operations.
Those detained include MHK Chair Ferhat Gündoğdu, Turkish Football Federation Active Referees Association Chair Ferdi Karadoruk, former deputy chair of the TFF Central Referee Board Ahmet Şahin and former TFF Central Referee Board member Yunus Yıldırım.
Sebahattin Şahin, the TFF’s Education and 4th Regional Coordinator; Alican Sağlar, the Organizational Coordinator of the Istanbul Branch of the TFF Referees and Observers Association; and Emre Kosif, Chair of the Istanbul Provincial Referee Board of the TFF Referees and Observers Association, were also detained. The suspects were taken to the police station for processing.
Allegations under investigation
The investigation examines allegations against some suspects involving the offenses of torment and forgery of official documents. On the basis of open-source research, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and HTS analyses, complainant and witness statements, and expert findings, some referees and observers were assessed as potentially linked to the crime.
The allegations under examination also include claims that there was interference in the processes of establishing referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointments, as well as in rule examinations.
Justice Minister Gürlek issues statement
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said football was a shared passion and an important value for citizens, adding that fair competition on the field and impartial, transparent refereeing processes were the foundation of trust in football.
Gürlek said the operation was conducted in the investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Istanbul Provincial Police Department, based on complainant and witness statements, expert reports, HTS records and MASAK records. He said judicial searches had been carried out at residences, workplaces and offices as part of the operation.
Gürlek said no one’s position, title or office constituted a privilege before the law, adding that efforts to promote clean football would continue to clarify allegations undermining trust in Turkish football and ensure that those responsible were held accountable before the law.
