Turkish referees' chief arrested in corruption investigation

Ferhat Gundogdu, the head of Turkey's refereeing committee, has been arrested along with six other people as part of a police corruption investigation shaking Turkish football. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek confirmed that the operation included searches of homes, workplaces and offices.

• Ferhat Gundogdu, president of the Turkish refereeing body, is one of seven people arrested.
• The vice-president of the referees' committee and five other individuals complete the list of detainees.
• The investigation targets alleged interference in classifications, appointments, scoring and rule exams.
• Turkish authorities searched homes, workplaces and offices linked to the suspects.
• Justice Minister Akin Gurlek vowed to continue the fight for clean football and accountability.

What Turkish justice is investigating in refereeing

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the probe focuses on claims regarding interference in the formation of referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations. The operation has led to the detention of the top figure in Turkish refereeing, his vice-president and five other people.

Alongside the arrests, security forces carried out searches in private homes, workplaces and offices linked to those under investigation. The judicial intervention reflects a push by Turkish authorities to expose practices that may have conditioned the careers of numerous match officials across the country.

Gurlek's promise: clean football and accountability

We will resolutely continue our fight for clean football so that allegations damaging trust in Turkish football are brought to light, those responsible are held accountable before the law, and football is associated with the effort, competition and sportsmanship on the pitch.

With these words, the Turkish justice minister framed the operation as part of a broader commitment to regenerate the country's sport. Gundogdu's arrest is a direct blow to the top of the refereeing establishment, just months after Turkish football experienced another far-reaching scandal involving betting.

The November 2025 betting scandal backdrop

In November 2025, the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation found that hundreds of professional match officials in the country had betting accounts. That case led to 29 arrests, including 14 footballers, and triggered a major credibility crisis in Turkish football.

However, Minister Gurlek did not establish any link between last year's betting scandal and the current investigation. They are two separate judicial proceedings that highlight the pressure surrounding Turkish match officials in recent times.

Who is Ferhat Gundogdu, the detained refereeing chief

Ferhat Gundogdu held the presidency of Turkey's refereeing committee, the body responsible for managing classifications, appointments and promotions of match officials across all levels of the country's football. His arrest, along with that of his vice-president, leaves the leadership of Turkish refereeing severely weakened mid-season.

The role of the refereeing committee president is central in Turkish football, as his decisions shape appointments in the Super League and other national competitions. The accusations of alleged document forgery and mobbing under investigation strike at the heart of the officiating body's internal processes.

Mobbing and document forgery under scrutiny

The investigation opened by Turkish justice includes alleged crimes of mobbing, or workplace harassment, and document forgery. Evidence suggests these practices may have altered the normal operation of referee evaluation and promotion processes, conditioning the professional careers of numerous officials.

Frequently asked questions about the Turkish refereeing chief's arrest