Turkey Football Referee Chief and Four Others Detained in Graft Investigation

A court in Turkey has ordered the detention of Ferhat Gundogdu, the head of the country’s football refereeing body, along with four others. This decision comes as part of an investigation into corruption in football.

The group appeared before a judge in Istanbul on Friday. They face several serious charges, including forging official documents, breaking trust, and illegally obtaining personal information. The judge decided to keep five of them in custody while allowing two others to be released under certain conditions.

This incident adds to a series of scandals affecting Turkish football, particularly following the suspension of 149 referees last year over illegal betting allegations. Just days before this latest court appearance, police detained Yasin Kol, a referee in Turkey’s top league, and an assistant referee as part of the ongoing investigation.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated that prosecutors are looking into claims of interference in referee assignments and evaluations. During police raids on Tuesday, investigators searched the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room at the Turkish Football Federation’s headquarters in Istanbul.

Sports journalist Ayhan Sensoy commented that this investigation appears to be a continuation of last year’s betting scandal, suggesting that it may lead to significant changes within the football federation. He expressed doubt that current federation leaders would be able to remain in their positions.

The Turkish Football Federation has not yet commented on the recent arrests. Meanwhile, its top officials are returning home after attending a UEFA Nations League match against Belgium, which Turkey lost 3-0.