Turkish refereeing chief detained in investigation into alleged interference

Ferhat Gundogdu, head of Turkey's Central Refereeing Committee, was among seven people detained on Tuesday as authorities investigated alleged interference in the country's professional refereeing system. BBC Sport reported the detentions, while Turkish broadcaster CGTN Turk said the operation was coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Justice minister Akin Gurlek said investigators were examining allegations involving how referees are classified, assigned, scored and appointed, as well as interference in examinations on the rules of the game. According to BBC Sport, police searched homes, workplaces and offices as part of the inquiry. The allegations remain under investigation.

CGTN Turk reported that the case concerned alleged forgery of official documents and workplace bullying. It said investigators had reviewed open-source material, financial intelligence and telephone records, statements from complainants and witnesses, and expert findings before conducting simultaneous operations in four provinces. The broadcaster reported that all seven suspects targeted in the operation were taken into custody.

The people named by CGTN Turk included Gundogdu, former committee vice-chairman Ahmet Sahin and former committee member Yunus Yildirim. It also identified committee member Sebahattin Sahin, whose responsibilities included education and regional oversight, alongside officials connected to referees' and observers' organisations. The report therefore described detentions across several roles within the refereeing structure.

In remarks carried by CGTN Turk, Gurlek said fair competition and impartial, transparent refereeing were essential to public confidence in football. He said a person's position or title would not give them special treatment under the law. BBC Sport also reported his pledge to pursue allegations that damage trust in the sport and hold those responsible accountable.

The investigation follows a separate betting scandal in Turkish football. BBC Sport recalled that the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees in November 2025 after an inquiry found hundreds of professional officials had betting accounts. However, the broadcaster explicitly noted that Gurlek had not linked that earlier scandal to the current investigation.