Turkish federation denies deleting material as referees chief is detained

Turkish football authorities have denied that digital material was deleted before a police inspection, as an investigation into alleged interference in refereeing procedures led to seven detentions. BBC Sport reported that Ferhat Gundogdu, head of the country's refereeing body, and his deputy were among those taken into custody.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the allegations concerned how referees were classified, assigned, scored and appointed, as well as examinations on the rules of the game. Reuters reported that Gundogdu, chairman of the Turkish Football Federation's central referee board, was detained as authorities examined those processes. The allegations remain under investigation.

According to Gurlek's account reported by Reuters, investigators obtained statements from complainants and witnesses and sought expert reports. They also examined telecommunications records and financial information from MASAK, Turkey's financial crimes watchdog. The minister said the effort was intended to clarify allegations that damaged confidence in football and hold those responsible accountable through the law.

The Turkish Football Federation said police inspected the video assistant referee room at its Istanbul headquarters on Tuesday, according to the BBC. It rejected reports that digital material had been erased ahead of that inspection and later recovered by police. The federation said it was cooperating with investigators and would file criminal complaints over false reporting and social media posts.

Gurlek also said police searched homes, workplaces and offices. The operation involved seven people, including Gundogdu and his deputy.

The case follows a separate betting scandal in Turkish football. In November 2025, the federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation found that hundreds of professional officials had betting accounts. Some 29 people, including 14 footballers, were arrested in that scandal. Gurlek did not establish a link between that earlier case and the current inquiry.

Reuters said Gundogdu's representatives had not immediately responded to its request for comment through the referee board at the time of its report. The accounts cited allegations and investigative steps, not findings of guilt against those detained.