Turkiye detains football refereeing chief and six officials over investigation into procedural manipulation

Turkish Justice Minister announces arrests over alleged interference in football refereeing procedures.

Published On 29 Sep 202629 Sep 2026

The president of Turkiye’s football refereeing board and six other individuals have been taken into custody on charges of interfering with refereeing processes, according to Justice Minister Akin Gurlek.

“We have examined allegations concerning manipulation of referee classifications, match assignments, scoring outcomes, appointment procedures, and rule reviews,” Gurlek posted on social media on Tuesday.

Among those apprehended are Ferhat Gündoğdu, the president of the refereeing authority, and his deputy.

Searches were conducted at the suspects’ residences, workplaces, and offices, Gurlek noted.

“Our commitment to clean football remains unwavering. We aim to clarify any claims that erode confidence in Turkish football, hold all responsible parties accountable under the law, and ensure the sport is defined by effort, competition, and sportsmanship on the pitch,” Gurlek added.

One year ago, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees over allegations of participation in an illegal betting ring.

The TFF probe revealed that 371 of the 571 referees officiating in professional leagues maintained betting accounts, with 152 of those placing actual wagers.

In total, 29 individuals were arrested in the extensive scandal, among them 14 footballers. One of the detainees was Fenerbahçe’s midfielder Mert Hakan Yandaş.

Authorities imposed suspensions on over 1,000 players, including 25 from the top-tier division.

Gurlek emphasized that there was no connection drawn between the previous betting scandal and the present investigation.

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