Turkish Referees’ Chief Arrested Amid Corruption Probe

Ferhat Gundogdu, the president of the Turkish referees’ body, has been arrested as part of a police investigation into corruption. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced that the investigation centers on claims of interference in referee classifications, assignments, scoring, appointment processes, and rule examinations.

Alongside Gundogdu, his vice-president and five other individuals were also arrested. The police conducted searches at homes, workplaces, and offices related to the case.

Gurlek emphasized the commitment to ensuring clean football in Turkey, aiming to address allegations that undermine trust in the sport and hold those responsible accountable. This investigation follows a previous scandal in November 2025, where 29 individuals, including 14 footballers, were arrested due to findings of betting accounts among hundreds of professional match officials.

However, Gurlek did not connect the current investigation with last year's scandal.