Turkey detains refereeing chief Ferhat Gundogdu in corruption probe
The head of refereeing in Turkish football has been detained in a police investigation into alleged corruption.
Ferhat Gundogdu, president of Turkey's refereeing body, was among seven people arrested. The group includes the president and vice-president of the refereeing organisation. Police searched homes, workplaces and offices as part of the inquiry, BBC reported.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek set out the focus of the case. He said investigators are looking at alleged interference in referee classifications, assignments, scoring, appointment processes and rule examinations. The detentions cover Gundogdu and six other members of the board, according to Reuters.
Gundogdu leads the Central Refereeing Committee, known as the MHK. It sits inside the Turkish Football Federation. It selects, ranks and assigns referees across the Turkish game. That makes it central to trust in results.
Separate reporting said the allegations also include mobbing and document forgery involving several MHK figures. That detail came from Turkish media coverage of the operation.
This is not the first time Turkish officiating has come under scrutiny. In November 2025, the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after an investigation found hundreds of officials held betting accounts. In that separate betting scandal, 29 people were arrested, including 14 footballers.
Gurlek did not link that 2025 betting case to the current referee investigation. The two inquiries stand apart for now.
For fans, this means attention turns off the pitch. Referees decide goals, penalties and red cards. When the system that appoints them is questioned, every decision faces extra scrutiny. No charges have been detailed yet, and the investigation continues.
