Ferhat Gündogdu detained in Turkish refereeing probe
Head of the refereeing body in Turkey arrested with six others over alleged interference in referee appointments and evaluations.
On September 29, 2026, Ferhat Gündogdu, the head of the refereeing arm of the Turkish Football Federation, was detained together with six other people as part of a police operation targeting alleged manipulation of refereeing assignments and evaluations.
Prosecutors suspect Gündogdu and several collaborators of intervening in referee appointments, ranking and assessment of matches, and of altering previously made assignments for referees and match controllers — accusations that, if proven, strike at the integrity of one of Europe's financially strongest national leagues.
The raids were carried out simultaneously in Istanbul, Ankara, Elazig and Manisa. Among those taken into custody were Ferdi Karadoruk, president of the Association of Acting Referees within the Turkish Football Federation; former MHK vice-president Ahmet Sahin; and former committee member Yunus Yildirim.
Context and earlier scandal
The arrests come roughly one year after a major betting scandal in Turkish football. At that time investigators examined 571 professional referees and found that 371 had accounts on sports-betting platforms and 152 were actively placing bets; 149 referees were ultimately sanctioned for betting-related offences.
Authorities have not released a full list of charges against the detainees. The case adds new turmoil to a championship where club budgets can exceed a billion euros per season, increasing the stakes around referee appointments and match outcomes.
Police and judicial authorities said the operation is ongoing and further detentions or formal charges are possible as the inquiry continues.
Photo: press material from the event
