Turkiye arrests president, six members of football refereeing body in probe | Football
Seven Arrested in Turkish Refereeing Investigation
Published on September 29, 2026
ANKARA, Turkey — The head of Turkey’s football refereeing body and six other individuals were arrested Tuesday amid allegations of interference in officiating procedures, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek reported.
Gurlek stated that the arrests were made following investigations into claims of manipulation in referee classifications, assignments, scoring processes, and rule evaluations. He announced the arrests through a social media post, emphasizing the government’s commitment to transparency in Turkish football.
Among those apprehended were Ferhat Gundogdu, the president of the refereeing body, and his deputy. Authorities conducted searches at their residences, 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.
This investigation comes a year after the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees in connection with an illegal betting scandal that involved more than 1,000 players, among them 25 from the first division. The TFF found that 371 of the country’s 571 referees officiating in professional leagues had betting accounts, with 152 actively placing bets.
That scandal led to the arrest of 29 individuals, including 14 footballers, one of whom was Mert Hakan Yandas, an international midfielder for Fenerbahce.
Despite the serious nature of the previous scandal, Gurlek did not establish any connection between it and the current investigation regarding alleged interference in refereeing practices.
