Turkish authorities have intensified their crackdown on corruption within professional football, arresting the head of the nation's refereeing body alongside six others in connection with a sprawling graft investigation. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced the arrests on Tuesday, revealing that the inquiry centers on allegations of systematic interference in critical refereeing operations, including classification procedures, match assignments, scoring decisions, and appointment processes. The investigation also examined potential wrongdoing related to examinations on football rules, signaling the breadth of the alleged misconduct within the refereeing establishment.
Among those detained was Ferhat Gundogdu, president of Turkey's refereeing body, along with his vice-president. Authorities conducted comprehensive searches across the suspects' residences, workplaces, and offices as part of the ongoing probe. Gurlek emphasized the government's commitment to transparency, stating: "We will steadfastly continue the fight for clean football so that claims undermining trust in Turkish football are clarified (and) those responsible are held accountable." The Justice Minister's forceful language underscores the severity with which officials are treating the allegations and their determination to restore credibility to the sport's administration.
This arrest marks an escalation in Turkey's broader battle against corruption in football, arriving one year after the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees over involvement in an illegal betting scandal. The new investigation, according to newspaper Hurriyet, centers on suspicions that the arrested individuals improperly influenced referee classifications, promotional examinations, and match assignments through document fraud and systematic intimidation. Investigators have examined financial audits and phone records, alongside witness testimony and expert reports, to build their case. The TFF responded by reaffirming its commitment to fostering "clean football," noting it has "resolutely tackled the issue of betting and illegal betting" while cooperating fully with interior, justice, and youth and sport ministry investigations. Documents requested by authorities have been submitted in sealed envelopes for forensic examination.
The previous betting scandal revealed the depth of corruption plaguing Turkish football, with a TFF investigation discovering that 371 of the nation's 571 professional league referees held betting accounts, while 152 actively placed wagers. That probe resulted in the arrest of 29 individuals, including 14 footballers such as Fenerbahce midfielder Mert Hakan Yandas, and led authorities to suspend more than 1,000 players—including 25 from the first division. The current arrests of refereeing leadership demonstrate that cleanup efforts continue at multiple levels of Turkish football's governance structure.