Turkiye arrests president, six members of football refereeing body in probe

What the report says

Turkiye has arrested the president of its football refereeing body and six other people in an investigation into alleged interference with refereeing procedures, according to Justice Minister Akin Gurlek. The arrests, reported by Al Jazeera from AFP material, were said to involve issues such as referee classifications, assignments, scoring, appointment processes and rule reviews. Gurlek said searches were carried out at the suspects’ homes, workplaces and offices.

Among those detained were Ferhat Gundogdu, who leads the refereeing body, and his deputy. Gurlek framed the case as part of an effort to restore confidence in Turkish football and said authorities want those responsible to face legal consequences. The investigation was described as unfolding in Turkiye, with no further details given in the source about specific charges or whether the suspects have responded.

The new arrests come about a year after the Turkish Football Federation suspended 149 referees in a separate betting-related scandal. That earlier probe found that a large share of the country’s professional referees had betting accounts, and some had placed bets, leading to arrests and wider disciplinary action against players. Gurlek did not say the latest case was connected to that earlier affair, but the background underscores continuing scrutiny of Turkish football governance and integrity.